Modeling and Structural Analysis of Hovercraft Assembly

AIJREAS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 11 (2016, NOV) (ISSN-2455-6300) ONLINE
ANVESHANA’S INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES
MODELING AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF HOVERCRAFT

ASSEMBLY
DASARI.SIVA NAGARAJU K. URMILA
14NK1D1510, M.Tech, Assistant Professor, Velaga Nageswara
Velaga Nageswara Rao College Of Rao College Of Engineering (Vnrc),
Engineering (VNRC), Chintalapudi, Chintalapudi, Ponnur, Guntur, Andhra
Ponnur, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh -522124. Pradesh -522124.
Email Id: dasari.sivanagaraju@gmail.com
ABSTRACT serve a dual purpose, to push air below the

This is the design of a small-scale working model craft and forcing it off ground, and to
hovercraft which providing fully hovercraft basic
create forward thrust by pushing air out
functions. Basically the hovercraft design and
fabrication process is quite similar to boat, ship, or the back of the craft. The first recorded
aircraft design. In this report, I had made the entire design for an air cushion vehicle was by
analysis requirement, formulas for thrust and lift, Swedish designer and philosopher,
drag components calculation and other important Emmanual Swedenborg, in 1716. The
parameters to realization the design of the working
project was rather short lived however. In
model hovercraft. On the other hand, this report is
aim to provided objective and scope of the the mid 1870s, Sir John Thornycroft built
research, the literature review study, research a number of model craft to check the 'air
methodology, and fem analysis on hybrid joint cushion' effects and even filed patents
structures of the model with result analysis and involving air lubricated hulls. Both
conclusion as part of requirement in submitted the
American and European engineers
report. Although hovercraft research and
development is still new technology and no continued to work n the problems of
domestic consumption in this technology, but designing practical craft. Not until early
through this project it can help the industry a step 20th century was a hovercraft possible
further. It is because this project can categorized because only the internal combustion
as successful and working as expected.
engine had the very high power to weight
INTRODUCTION ratio suitable for hover flight. The
Over the centuries there have been many commercially viable model of a hovercraft
efforts to reduce the element of friction was designed in 1955 by the English
between moving parts. A hovercraft is a inventor Christopher Cockerell. It's
relatively a new means of transportation. different from traditional vehicles because
The concept of the hovercraft was born it has no surface contact when it's in
when engineers came up with an motion. Cockerell continued work on
experimental design to reduce drag on hovercrafts through the 1960's, was
ships. The revolutionary idea was to use a knighted for his services to engineering in
cushion of air between boats and the water 1969 and is credited with coining the word
that they plowed through in order to hovercraft to describe his invention. Since
reduce friction. This idea eventually led to then, many types of land, marine and
what is known today as the hovercraft, amphibious air cushion vehicle have
basically a vehicle that uses 1 or more fans developed. Hovercraft has paved its way
to float on a cushion of air. These fans for new opportunity on Malaysia
manufacturing sector. Its major

EMAIL ID: anveshanaindia@gmail.com , WEBSITE: www.anveshanaindia.com
80
introduction is to assist fire and rescue Working Model of Hovercraft

department and was produced by AFE PRINCIPLE OF WORKING
manufacturing company with Japanese The principle of working of a Hovercraft is
technology collaboration. to lift the craft by a cushion of air to propel
A Hovercraft is a vehicle that flies like a it using propellers. The idea of supporting
plane but can float like a boat, can drive the vehicle on a cushion of air developed
like a car but will traverse ditches and from the idea to increase the speed of boat
gullies as it is a flat terrain. A Hovercraft by feeding air beneath them. The air
also sometimes called an air cushion beneath the hull would lubricate the
vehicle because it can hover over or move surface and reduce the water drag on boat
across land or water surfaces while being and so increasing its speed through water.
held off from the surfaces by a cushion of The air sucked in through a port by large
air. A Hovercraft can travel over all types lifting fans which are fitted to the primary
of surfaces including grass, mud, muskeg, structure of the craft. They are powered by
sand, quicksand, water and ice .Hovercraft gas turbine or diesel engine. The air is
prefer gentle terrain although they are pushed to the under side of the craft. On
capable of climbing slopes up to 20%, the way apportion of air from the lift fan is
depending upon surface characteristics. used to inflate the skirt and rest is ducted
Modern Hovercrafts are used for many down under the craft to fill area enclosed
applications where people and equipment by the skirt.
need to travel at speed over water but be
able load and unload on land. For example
they are used as passenger or freight
carriers, as recreational machines and even
use as warships. Hovercrafts are very
exciting to fly and feeling of effortlessly
traveling from land to water and back
again is unique.
At the point when the pressure equals the
weight of the craft, the craft lifts up and air
is escaped around the edges of the skirt. So
a constant feed of air is needed to lift the
craft and compensate for the losses. Thus
craft is lifted up. After the propulsion is
provided by the propellers mounted on the
Hovercraft. The airs from the propellers
are passed over rudders, which are used to
steer the craft similar to an aircraft.
Hovercraft is thus propelled and controlled
and its powerful engine makes it to fly.
MAIN PARTS
Lower hull- It is the basic structure on
which the Hovercraft floats when the
engine is stopped while moving over

81
water. It supports the whole weight of the can and was then let out towards the scales
craft. in a narrow ring of air, the cans were
Skirts- They are air bags inflated by air mad4e so that it was possible to remove
are fitted around the perimeter of the craft inner can so the air could be directed in
hold air under the craft and thus upon a two ways.
cushion of air. It enables to obtain greater The experiment was conducted in
Hover height. The material used is rib stop two steps. First the smaller can was
nylon or Terylene. removed and blower switched on. The
Lift fan-It is fitted to the primary scales measured the amount of thrust the
structure of the Hovercraft. The air is air from the one can produced down onto
pumped under the craft between the skirt the scales. The smaller can was now
space to produce a cushion of air. replaced inside the larger can so that the
Propeller-It is used to obtain the forward ring of air was produced. Again the blower
motion of the craft. It is fitted to the top of was switched on and the scales measured
the craft and is powered by a powerful gas amount of thrust the ring of air produced
turbine or diesel engine. down onto the scales. Here is the key
Rudders-They are similar to that used in discovery because Cockrell observed that
an aircraft. Rudders are moved by the two cans nested inside each other
hydraulic systems. By moving the rudders produced more thrust onto the scales than
we can change the direction of the craft. the simple open can or plenum chamber
DEVELOPMENT OF AIR CUSHION did, he had discovered the momentum
BY MOMENTUM CURTAIN EFFECT curtain effect and this was the key
Stability of the Hovercraft on its cushion ingredient that he patented.
of air remained a real problem despite In the full size craft the plenum
some design efforts and new approach was chamber was also filled in so that a slot
needed. To solve these problems, plenum round the bottom edge of plenum chamber
chamber with a momentum curtain was wall was former where the air fed in at the
developed by Sir Christopher Cockrell. top. The slot produced a curtain of flowing
His first experiments were conducted with air that was inclined. The high pressure air
the aid of two cans and a vacuum cleaner from the slot angled inwards towards the
(with blower end). The cans were drilled centre of the craft helped to contains and
and bolted so that one can was inside the sustains the air cushion. Using this method
other with open ends facing down to some a stable air cushion could be created. The
weighing scales, the top of the larger can craft was still riding on a plenum chamber
was open and had a tube connected to it so of sorts but it was created and maintained
that air could be forced in to the top can by the high pressure ring of air
and around the smaller can inside. surrounding the lower pressure air in the
center.The momentum curtain arrangement
achieved higher hover heights with less
power. It also solved some of the stability
problems. The box structure in the center
of the craft around which air escaped was
closed to form a buoyancy tank to enable
The air traveled around between the inside the craft to float on water when it came to
of the bigger can and outside of the smaller rest.

82
The design was exactly what was one end and the other end is connected to
used in first publicly demonstrated the lift fan. Both the compressor and
Hovercraft the SRN1, built by Saunders turbine look like fans with large number of
Roe in the United Kingdom it served as a blades. When the engine is started the
test bed for many years during Hovercraft compressor compresses air from the
development. engine intakes and pushes into the
combustion chambers mounted around the
HOVERCRAFT SKIRTS engine. Fuel is squirted into the
Despite the momentum curtain being very combustion chamber and is ignited. The
effective the hover height was still too low compressed air then rapidly expands as it
unless great, and uneconomical, power is heated and forces its way out through
was used. Simple obstacles such as small the turbine to the exhaust. As the gas
waves, or tide-formed ridges of shingle on pressure raises the turbine speeds up, there
a beach, could prove to be too much for by driving the compressor faster. The
the hover height of the craft. These engine speed increases until it reaches
problems led to the development of the engines normal operating speed. However
skirt the use of these engines results in very
A skirt is a flexible shaped strip fitted high level of engine noise outside the craft.
below the bottom edges of the plenum In the SRN6 this meant that it was possible
chamber slot. As the Hovercraft lifts, the to hear the craft traveling across the Solent
skirt extends below it to retain much between the Portsmouth and the isle of
deeper cushion of air. The development of Wight in the UK several miles away. The
skirts enables a Hovercraft to maintain its current AP188 crafts that runs on the old
normal operating speed through large SRN6 routes has now moved back towards
waves and also allows it to pass over the piston engines and uses marine diesel
rocks, ridges and gullies. engines that are much quieter and fuel
Skirt is one of the most design sensitive efficient.
parts. The design must be just right or an
uncomfortable ride for passengers or LITERATURE REVIEW
damage to craft and skirts results. The skirt In the beginning Hovercraft as we know them
material has to be light flexible and today started life as an experimental design to
durable all at the same time. For skirt to reduce the drag that was placed on boats and
meet all of the requirements the design and ships as they ploughed through water. The
use of new materials has slowly evolved. first recorded design for an air cushion
There are three types of skirts vehicle was put forwarded by Swedish
 Bag skirt designer and philosopher Emmanuel
 Finger skirt Swedenborg in 1716. The craft resembled an
upturned dinghy with a cockpit in the centre.
Apertures on either side of this allowed the
operator to raise or lower a pair of oar-like air
scoops, which on downward strokes would
force compressed air beneath the hull, thus
raising it above the surface. The project was
The engine has a main shaft on
short-lived because it was never built, for
which is mounted a compressor and
soon Swedenborg soon realized that to
turbine. A starter motor is connected to

83
operate such a machine required a source of DESIGN

energy far greater than that could be supplied CATIA offers a solution to shape design,
by single human equipment. Not until the styling, surfacing workflow and
early20th century was a Hovercraft practically visualization to create, modify, and
possible, because only the internal validate complex innovative shapes from
combustion engine had the very high power to industrial design to Class-A surfacing with
weight ratio suitable for Hover flight. In the the ICEM surfacing technologies. CATIA
mid 1950s Christopher Cockrell, a brilliant supports multiple stages of product design
British radio engineer and French engineer whether started from scratch or from 2D
John Bertin, worked along with similar line of sketches. CATIA is able to read and
research, although they used different produce STEP format files for reverse
approaches to the problem of maintaining the engineering and surface reuse.
air cushion. Cockrell while running a small
boatyard in Norfolk Boards in the early 1950s SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
began by exploring the use of air lubrication The CATIA Systems Engineering solution
to reduce the hydrodynamic drag, first by delivers a unique open and extensible
employing a punt, then a 20 knot ex-naval systems engineering development platform
launch as a test craft. that fully integrates the cross-discipline
modeling, simulation, verification and
DESIGN AND MODELLING business process support needed for
CATIA (Computer Aided Three- developing complex „cyber-physical‟
dimensional Interactive Application) (in products. It enables organizations to
English usually pronounced is a multi- evaluate requests for changes or develop
platform CAD/CAM/CAE commercial new products or system variants utilizing a
software suite developed by the French unified performance based systems
company Dassault Systèmes directed by engineering approach. The solution
Bernard Charlès.Written in the C++ addresses the Model Based Systems
programming language, CATIA is the Engineering (MBSE) needs of users
cornerstone of the Dassault Systèmes developing today‟s smart products and
software suite. systems and comprises the following
elements: Requirements Engineering,
CATIA enables the creation of 3D parts, Systems Architecture Modeling, Systems
from 3D sketches, sheetmetal, composites, Behavior Modeling & Simulation,
molded, forged or tooling parts up to the Configuration Management & Lifecycle
definition of mechanical assemblies. The Traceability, Automotive Embedded
software provides advanced technologies Systems Development (AUTOSAR
for mechanical surfacing & BIW. It Builder) and Industrial Automation
provides tools to complete product Systems Development (ControlBuild).
definition, including functional tolerances
as well as kinematics definition. CATIA CATIA uses the open Modelica
provides a wide range of applications for language in both CATIA Dynamic
tooling design, for both generic tooling Behavior Modeling and Dymola, to
and mold & die. quickly and easily model and simulate the
behavior of complex systems that span
multiple engineering disciplines. CATIA

84
& Dymola are further extended by through considering various design cases,
the availability of a number of industry (different shapes, materials, loads, etc.)
and domain specific Modelica libraries and analyze them to choose the optimum
that enable user to model and simulate a design. The method originated in the
wide range of complex systems – ranging aerospace industry as a tool to study stress
from automotive vehicle dynamics through in a complex airframe structures. It grows
to aircraft flight dynamics. out of what was called the matrix analysis
method used in aircraft design. The
Electrical Systems method has gained increased popularity
CATIA offers a solution to facilitate the among both researchers and practitioners.
design and manufacturing of electrical The basic concept of finite element method
systems spanning the complete process is that a body or structure may be divided
from conceptual design through to into small elements of finite dimensions
manufacturing. Capabilities include called “finite elements”. The original body
requirements capture, electrical schematic or the structure is then considered, as an
definition, interactive 3D routing of both assemblage of these elements connected at
wire harnesses and industrial cable a finite number of joints called nodes or
solutions through to the production of nodal points.
detailed manufacturing documents The method originated in the aerospace
including formboards. industry as a tool to study stress in a
complex airframe structures. It grows out
of what was called the matrix analysis
method used in aircraft design. The
method has gained increased popularity
among both researchers and practitioners.
The basic concept of finite element method
is that a body or structure may be divided
into small elements of finite dimensions
called “finite elements”. The original body
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS or the structure is then considered, as an
The finite element method is a powerful assemblage of these elements connected at
tool to obtain the numerical solution of a finite number of joints called nodes or
wide range of engineering problem. The nodal points.
method is general enough to handle any The ANSYS computer software is a large-
complex shape or geometry, for any scale multi purpose finite element program
material under different boundary and that may be used for solving several
loading conditions. The generality of the classes of engineering problems. The
finite element method fits the analysis analysis capabilities of ANSYS include the
requirement of today‟s complex ability to solve static and dynamic
engineering systems and designs where structural analyses, steady state and
closed form solutions of governing transient problems, mode frequency and
equilibrium equations are usually not buckling eigen value problems, static or
available. In addition, it is an efficient time varying magnetic analyses and
design tool by which designers can various types of field and coupled field
perform parametric design studies by applications. The program contains many

85
special features which allow non-linearties Procedure for modal analysis in ANSYS
or secondary effects to be included in the  Create the model using linear
solution such as, plasticity, large strain, elements because modal analysis
hyper elasticity, creep, swelling, large supports linear problem only.
deflections, contact, stress, stiffening  Define the material properties of
temperature dependency, material linear isotropic such as young's
anisotropy and radiation. As ANSYS was modulus and density etc.,
developed. Other special capabilities such  Apply the loads like engine, gear
as, sub structuring, sub modeling, random box, propeller shaft for the unladen
vibration, kinetostatics, kinetodynamics, condition, and for the laden
free convection fluid analysis, acoustics, condition, including above loads,
magnetic, piezo-electrics, coupled field passengers and driver's weight are
analysis and design optimization was also applied.
added to the program. These capabilities  Arrest the-nodal degrees of
contribute further to make ANSYS a multi freedom at the top and bottom
purpose analysis tool for varied nodes of the tyre in all directions
engineering disciplines. and remove the constraints in
The ANSYS program has been in vertical direction at top node of the
commercial use since 1970 and has been tyres.
used extensively in the aerospace,  Enter the ANSYS solution
automotive, construction, electronics, processor in which analysis type is
energy services, manufacturing, nuclear taken as modal analysis, and 'by
plastics, oil and steel industries. In taking mode extraction method, by
addition, many consulting firms and defining number of modes to be
hundreds of universities use ANSYS for extracted. Solution method is
analysis, research and educational use. chosen as Block lanczos method.
Modal analysis  Solve the problem using current LS
The modal analysis is to determine command from the tool bar.
the vibration characteristics (natural Model
frequencies and mode shapes) of a
structure or a machine component while it
is being designed. It also can be a starting
point for another, more detailed, dynamic
analysis, such as a transient dynamic
analysis, a harmonic response analysis, or
a spectrum analysis. I he important feature
of modal analysis is modal cyclic
symmetry, which allows reviewing the
mode, shapes of a cyclically symmetric
structure by modeling just a sector of it. Results:Factor Of Safety Along Y-Axis
Modal analysis in the ANSYS family of
products is a linear analysis. Any
nonlinearity, such as plasticity and contact
(gap) elements, are ignored even if they
are defined.

86
Factor Of Safety Along Y-Axis
Load Vs Deflection curve for the hybrid

joint under static compression load

87
Axial stress (σxx) along the vertical planes subjected to flexural loading (Load = 1.5 kN)
CONCLUSIONS attack, manipulating the initial thrust

The hovercraft base model has been taken required to make lift and opting maximum
as a design model, its size and propulsion force for forward movement.
performance has been studied with the The scaled wooden model was developed
available journals and books. The base and experimentally analyzed by using
structure was designed and its lift, thrust wind tunnel experiment. The lift force
and drag has been determined. The Clark required to hover the craft is produced by
Y wing was attached to hovercraft to the attached wing. In traditional model the
produce the lift which was already power from single engine unit is split into
produced by fan. Hovercraft with winged two part for getting thrust and lift. In this
model design will be carried out at an winged hovercraft the most engine power
optimized angle of attack. The will be delivered to propulsion alone, thus
performance measures of hover flight will its possible to hover the vehicle at higher
be done using Computational Fluid speed with built in lift wings. Also a Three
Dynamic(CFD) software‟s and the total dimensional modelling of a GRP-Steel
coefficient of lift to drag ratio will be hybrid joint that forms a structural
calculated against the various angle of component between the hull and the super-

88
structure in the hovercraft is attempted for

the first time in the final study. Three
dimensional analysis has resulted in fresh
understanding that the normal stress along
the interface layer is not uniform across
the width of the hybrid joint. It is
suggested that the more refined FE mesh
model should be analysed for further
understanding of the stresses that cause
failure.
REFERENCES
1. Fitz Patrick P. Hovercraft Club of Great
Britain “Calculation of thrust in a ducted
fan assembly for Hovercraft” 2-35.
2. Fitz Patrick P. Hovercraft Club of Great
Britain “The Principles of Hovercraft
Design” 27-46.
3. Brooks I (2015) “A Method for
Estimating the Thrust and Lift
Performance of an Integrated Hovercraft”
15-57.
4. Siderits J (2011) “Hovercraft: Body and
Frame” .
5. Malik Z, Khan Y (2011) “Design and
Fabrication of a Hovercraft” 56-65.
6. Okafor (2013) “Development of a
Hovercraft Prototype” International
Journal of Engineering and Technology.
7. Yang Q, Jones V (2011) “Investigation
of Skirt Dynamics of Air Cushion Vehicle
under Non-Linear Wave Impact by using
SPH-FEM model”.
8. Rashid MZA, Aras MSM. “Dynamic
Mathematical Modelling and Simulation
Study of Small Scale Autonomous
Hovercraft”.
9. Uma SV, Maheshwara Rao, Surya
Prakash VS (2014) “Development of a
Integrated Air Cushioned Vehicle”
International Journal of Modern
Engineering Research.

89

Modeling and Structural Analysis of Hovercraft Assembly

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AIJREAS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 11 (2016, NOV) (ISSN-2455-6300) ONLINE

ANVESHANA’S INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES