Optimal Static Characteristics of Amphibious PAR Vehicles

Abstract

Power augmented ram platform vehicle is a high-performance air-assisted amphibious transport of the new generation. The objective of this study is to determine the optimal position of the platform flap for low-speed operations on water and solid ground. The static friction of vehicle hulls on solid surfaces and the static deformation of the water surface are combined with results of the ideal jet theory to predict forces and the platform position. The optimal values for the flap gap are obtained that maximize the recovered static thrust on solid surfaces and the vehicle vertical position on the water surface.