THE DESIGN OF BASE-VENTED STRUTS FOR HIGH SPEED HYDROFOIL SYSTEMS

Several families of two dimensional base vented struts with low cavity drag are derived and the important characteristics of these struts such as incipient cavita tion number, section modulus and drag at finite base cavitation number are presented. A comparison of these theoretical results with limited experimental data show the theory to be adequate. The practical problem of designing optimum base vented struts for prescribed thickness or section modulus including the influence skin friction, strut weight, and the use of 'built-up' or hollow construction is also discussed. (Author) Paper reprinted from the IAS/Navy Meeting on Hydrofoils and Air Cushion Vehicles, Washington, D. C. 17-18 Sep 62.