Hovercraft Intro Spring2004

EGR 100
Design Project II
HOVERCRAFT
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
Engineering
It is a great profession. There is the satisfaction of
watching a figment of the imagination emerge
through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it
moves to realization in stone or metal or energy.
Then it brings jobs and homes to men. Then it
elevates the standards of living and adds to the
comforts of life. That is the engineer's high privilege.
- Herbert Hoover, on the Profession of

Engineering (from his memoirs)
1
Recognition of Need
Engineering
Conceptualization Design
Feasibility Assessment
Process
Decision to Proceed / Funding Approval Request for Proposal
Assignment of Organizational Responsibilities Proposal

Development of Work Breakdown Schedule Evaluation/Selection
Preliminary Design
Cost Analysis / Redesign
Development Detailed Design

Testing Qualification Testing
Production Planning
and Tool Design
Acceptance
Production
Testing
U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)
Over Water
Over Land
2
How does a hovercraft work?
A hovercraft
obtains its unique
propulsion through
a combination of
lift and thrust.

A blower fan is
positioned
vertically to
produce a
“cushion” of air
underneath the
tightly sealed
“skirt” of the
craft, thus lifting
it up over the
surface.
3
Another fan is
positioned
horizontally in
the rear to
provide the
thrust to push
the craft
forward.

• The region of trapped air underneath the
hovercraft is called a “plenum chamber”.
• Air flowing into the chamber creates a ring of
circulating air that keeps the air from escaping.
• Since more air is being forced into the plenum
chamber all the time, the air underneath the craft
is at a higher pressure than the air outside the
chamber.
• When gravity is overcome, the craft will float on a
cushion of high-pressure air.
4
Air Pressure
• Try to squeeze a
blown-up balloon.
• It pushes back. Why?
• The air inside the
balloon is at a higher
pressure than the air
outside the balloon.
Avro-Canada VZ-9AV Avrocar

1950-60’s Canada and the US experimental Aircraft
The jet of air generated by the turborotor to cushion the

aircraft near the ground grew increasingly unstable at
altitudes of more than a few feet.
5
Steering
• Steering a hovercraft can be quite
challenging
• Only the edges of the skirt touch the
ground.
• Like a puck on an air hockey table, it
tends to go in whatever direction it is
pushed!
Steering
• Thrust fans may have rudders to control
the flow of air.
• The driver may lean from side to side,
causing drag on one side of the craft.
• Slowing down and stopping are tricky…
– You can let less air into the plenum chamber,
increasing the drag between the skirt and the
ground. (Tough on the skirt!!)
– You can make a 180° turn, travel backwards,
using the fan to counteract the vehicles
momentum.
6
Versatility
Hovercrafts work equally well
traveling over any mostly smooth
surface:
– Dirt, Grass
– Concrete
– Water, Snow, Ice
Hovercrafts are called “amphibious ”

vehicles, since they can travel over both
land and water.
Bernoulli Equation
A special form of Euler’s equation derived along one streamline is called
the Bernoulli equation.
ρ v2/2 + ρgh + p = constant or
ρ1v12/2 + ρ1gh1 + p1 = ρ2v22/2 + ρ2gh2 + p2 = constant
where
v = speed (m/s) g = gravitational constant (m/s2)
h = elevation (h) p = pressure (N/m2)
ρ = density (kg/m3)
Static Pressure = Force/Area normal to F P=F/A

Represents the actual pressure of the fluid.
Dynamic Pressure ρ v2/2

Represents the pressure rise when the fluid motion is brought
to a stop.
7
Experimental Techniques for
Measuring Pressure
Pitot tube Manometer Bourdon tube
Bellows Barometer Strain gauge
Piezoelectric transducers
Continuity Equation
Continuity Equation
The constant Q represents the
volume of fluid, which passes
through each cross section of
the stream tube per unit time.
q = v1A1 = v2A2
where
q = flowrate (m3/s)
v = speed (m/s)
A = area (m2)
8
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Newton's first law of motion is often stated as
An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an
object in motion tends to stay in motion with
the same speed and in the same direction
unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
Newton's second law of motion can be formally stated

as the acceleration of an object as produced by a net Fnet = m * a
force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the
net force, in the same direction as the net force, and
inversely proportional to the mass of the object.
Formally stated, Newton's third law is "For every

action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
Design Requirements
Lift – the force on the platform must be sufficient to
lift the weight of the vehicle.
9
Design Requirements
Fan Curves
One operating
speed
Axial Fan
As flow pressure decreases, volume flow rate increases!
Design Requirements
Platform Area
The skirt holds in the

flow and increases
the pressure.
For a given fan, the Area of the platform must be

selected such that the Total Force is greater than
the Weight of the platform.
10
Design Requirements
Platform Balancing
What happens if the

craft is not balanced?
Flow escapes out the back

causing the craft to become Flow rate is increased,
unstable. Pressure decreases, and the
craft can lift less weight.
Design Requirements
Thrust Methods
1) Thrust Fan (more weight)
2) Purposely Unbalanced
Provides thrust,
possibly unstable.
3) Duct air from lift plenum
11
Fans in Series and in Parallel
Does + = 2 x Lift ???
Series Parallel
1 2
1 2
2 x Pressure 2 x Flowrate
Lift Competition
•Battery is not placed on platform.

•The hovercraft that holds the largest weight (rice
bags and 2 1/4 lb weights) before friction can no
longer be overcome, Wins!
12
Racing Competition
Track width ≈ 20 inches, length ≈ 10 ft.
•Hovercraft tethered to battery

(Tether must always be behind hovercraft.)
•Quickest time Wins!

•Deductions for course corrections
Style Competition
BE CREATIVE!!!
Entire class will vote for the
hovercraft with the most
STYLE.
13
Materials
•Batteries – 12 V rechargeable
•Fans – 1-2 Axial Fan(s)
•Platforms – Foam board, etc…
•Skirts – Visquine, bicycle inner tubes,
pool rings, trash bags, etc…
•Miscellaneous – Duct tape, adhesive,
string, wire, switches,pipe fittings…
Materials
You must decide on your platform

and skirt materials by the end of
class next Tuesday.
14
Reference Material
•Use the Internet
-Keywords: Hovercraft, “how to build”, “how
does it work”
-Junkyard Wars, HovercraftModels, etc…
•Use Textbooks
-Physics, Fluids, Dynamics….
•Visit the Library
Demonstration
Let’s Race!!
•Demo shows the principle of air as a form of

lubrication to reduce friction between two surfaces
•Fold a piece of paper and rest it on a table top
•As you blow into the Hovercraft, it rises with the
pressure under it and moves forward with the air
pressure behind it.
15
Spring 2003
Spring 2003
16

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EGR 100

- Herbert Hoover, on the Profession of

Assignment of Organizational Responsibilities Proposal

Cost Analysis / Redesign

Development Detailed Design

U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)

How does a hovercraft work?

How does a hovercraft work?

Avro-Canada VZ-9AV Avrocar

The jet of air generated by the turborotor to cushion the

Hovercrafts are called “amphibious ”

Static Pressure = Force/Area normal to F P=F/A

Dynamic Pressure ρ v2/2

Newton's second law of motion can be formally stated

Formally stated, Newton's third law is "For every

As flow pressure decreases, volume flow rate increases!

The skirt holds in the

For a given fan, the Area of the platform must be

What happens if the

Flow escapes out the back

1) Thrust Fan (more weight)

3) Duct air from lift plenum

Does + = 2 x Lift ???

•Battery is not placed on platform.

Track width ≈ 20 inches, length ≈ 10 ft.

•Hovercraft tethered to battery

•Quickest time Wins!

You must decide on your platform

•Demo shows the principle of air as a form of

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