Numeric assessment of the effect of the twin island design on the airflow dynamics around a generic aircraft carrier

Abstract

The twin island concept is the most recent innovation in the top-deck architecture of an aircraft carrier. The carrier’s bluff body design presents the pilot with a number of difficulties, with landing on deck posing the biggest problem. The goal of the current study is to carry out the numerical analysis of the aerodynamic behaviour of twin island structure on Generic Aircraft Carrier. The flow characterization has been performed utilizing the normalized axial velocity and turbulent kinetic energy as aids for establishing pilot workload along the glideslope line. In this paper, multiple transverse planes cut across perpendicular to the flow direction are used to analyse the flow across the flight deck of twin island GAC and its downstream. The impacts of the two islands’ longitudinal translations with regard to the initial GAC position were then investigated and the results were analysed and compiled with reference to the landing approach path of the aircraft. The results show that the twin island designs are preferable to a single island. The maximum advantage in terms of turbulence reduction is achieved when the bifurcated islands are longitudinally repositioned forward of the original single island design position. The modified design not only achieves a 72% reduction in peak turbulence but also provides an additional time advantage to the pilot for assessing the environmental conditions while he is approaching the carrier flight deck for landing thus aiding to efficiently and effectively manage the workload. The findings of this study can act as a driving force for the integration and application of twin island concept in future design plans for floating structures and further studies in the field.