SEAKEEPING DYNAMICS OF A SINGLE CUSHION, PERIPHERAL CELL-STABILIZED AIR CUSHION VEHICLE

A study of air cushion vehicle (ACV) motion in waves is presented for a single cushion ACV having a cellular, peripheral cell-type skirt system. The craft is considered to be traveling at constant speed while encountering regular waves of arbitrary heading. The dynamic equations for pitch, heave, and roll motions are derived using the cushion and cell air flow equations. These equations are solved numerically using a digital computer. The results are shown as frequency response curves giving steady-state motion response amplitudes as a function of encounter frequency or wavelength for fixed craft speed and wave steepness. The theoretical predictions are then compared with experimental data taken from scale model, towing tank tests in head seas. The comparison shows good agreement for pitch motion, while heave motion damping is overpredicted.