An Experimental Study of the Dynamic and Steady State Flow Disturbances Encountered by Aircraft During a Carrier Landing Approach

摘要

A series of investigations were undertaken in a water tunnel to obtain greater insight into the disturbances encountered by aircraft engaged in the process of landing on a carrier. Water tunnel tests were selected because the use of water as the test medium permitted the disturbed flow areas to be identified by the cavitation phenomenon. In addition, these studies were undertaken at Reynolds numbers higher than those normally achieved in wind tunnel investigations. Key conclusions are that dynamic conditions produce flow regimes significantly different from those produced with steady state conditions; that the downstream wake is periodic, with the periodicity having a direct relationship with the pitching and heaving motions of the ship; that the overhang of the deck is the principal cause of the flow disturbances (far outweighing the disturbances caused by the island); and that steady state measurements are of considerable value and do permit some quantitative estimation of the velocity fluctuations occurring in a wake resulting from carrier motions. (Author)