Advanced Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics for Powerboats

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AR© develops advanced cavity drag technique for cockpit/cowling drag of powerboats.
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Figure 1 - Cavity drag shear layer

Cavity flow
Figure 2 - flow over cavity openings can give rise to flow oscillations, vibration, and increased aerodynamic drag (video).
 
Advanced aerodynamics and cavity drag analysis gives highly accurate cockpit/cowling drag contributions to powerboat performance.

Based on expertise developed by Savory (UWO) and by applications demonstrated by GHARIB/ROSHKO (CIT), Jim Russell (AR) has applied unique cavity drag analysis to the open cockpit areas of high performance powerboats. His analysis shows that open cockpit areas produce more aerodynamic drag than the covered cockpit of same area.

Additionally, effects of friction drag and profile drag generated by various cockpit, cowling and cover arrangements on all types of powerboat applications is developed by Russell. The results are an accurate representation of aerodynamic drag associated with performance powerboat cockpit/cowl/appendage arrangements, using Russell's analysis.



Figure 3 - Typical Closed Cavity Type model, mostly occur for shallow cavities where the cavity length is much greater than the cavity depth.
  It is shown that above a critical value of the cavity width-to-depth ratio there is an abrupt and large increase of drag due to the onset of the 'wake mode' of instability.  Typical Closed Cavity Type model, mostly occur for shallow cavities where the cavity length is much greater than the cavity depth, and demonstrate higher drag than Open Cavity Type flow.

Influences on ultimate cavity drag are shown to include:
-cavity width-to-depth ratio (aspect ratio),
-cockpit size
-cavity-oscillation,
-mechanics of the separated shear layer,
-internal recirculating flow ('cavity-vortex'),
-changes of flow regime with changing geometry, -upstream influence.

Testing has shown that little change is observed in the drag coefficient for small yaw angles (less than 30 degrees) for shallow cavities. 

 
Different cockpit designs/orientations and positioning affect the friction, profile and cavity drags that are generated by the hull.

For many powerboat design configurations, cockpit cavity drag is a function of open (uncovered) cockpit area, velocity, cdCavity (cavity drag coefficient).
 

Russell applies these advancements in newest versions of AR's TBDP©/VBDP© performance analysis software.


Figure 4 - friction drag and profile drag also contribute (with cavity drag) to total aerodynamic drag of various cockpit, cowling and covered areas of powerboats.
 
 

Research results now included in performance analysis by TBDP©/VBDP©

[more about AR's research  more about AR's publications and technical articles/papers]

© Copyright 2015 by Jim Russell and AeroMarine Research® - all rights reserved. 
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Material from this website may be not copied or used or redistributed, in whole or in part, without specific written consent of Jim Russell or AeroMarine Research®.