LATERAL STABILITY OF A DYNAMIC RAM AIR CUSHION VEHICLE

The lateral stability derivatives of a dynamic ram air cushion vehicle in a rectangular guideway were measured using a ship model towing tank. Lift and pitching moment are also reported. The primary lateral derivatives are all stabilizing, with significant cross coupling in some cases. The longitudinal forces are compared with the numerical prediction of the one-dimensional mass conservation theory given by Boccadoro, with good agreement. A trailing edge Trefftz analysis is presented and used to predict the lateral derivatives. Comparison with the lateral data is good for side displacement derivatives but is less successful for yaw angle derivatives. The towing tank is found to be an effective method for testing dynamic air cushion vehicles.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared by Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. Aerophysics Lab.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Aerophysics Laboratory
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Aidala, P V
• Publication Date: 1974-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 72 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Air cushion vehicles; Dynamics; Guideways; Mathematical models; Random access memory; Soil stabilization; Stability (Mechanics); Tracked air cushion vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Stabilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Lateral movement
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00081184
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-TSC-FRA-74-6 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-TSC-239
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 6 1975 12:00AM