Numerical study on the movement of air inside the inner cavity of a hovercraft model

Abstract

This article describes several numerical simulations on aerodynamic characteristics of an oval shaped hovercraft. The 3D model was created in CATIA V5 and numerical analysis was performed in ANSYS Fluent. For numerical simulation, the velocity at inlet section and air-clearance height were specified as input parameters, with stationary hovercraft, flat ground surface and the flexible skirt that does not deform under the influence of the pressure created as imposed conditions. Three different air-clearance heights and velocities at inlet section are analysed. The output results of the numerical simulations are mass flow rate, lift force, static pressure, velocity distribution and pressure inside hovercraft.