Effect of Ratio of Jet Area to Total Area and of Pressure Ratio on Lift Augmentation of Annular Jets in Ground Effect Under Static Conditions

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the effects of the ratio of jet area to total area and of the pressure ratio on the lift-augmentation characteristics of annular jets in ground effect. The investigation was made over an area-ratio range of 1.00 to 0.02 and a pressure-ratio range of about 1.04 to 1.95. Several configurations with center jets were tested through an angle-of-attack range to determine the pitching-moment characteristics. The tests were conducted in a static test room with the use of the compressed-air facilities. The results show that lift augmentation increases somewhat as the area ratio is reduced to about 0.10, below which it deteriorates due to thin jet mixing. The effect of pressure ratio on lift was negligible for the area-ratio range investigated. Calculations of the lift per air horsepower for a given base loading indicate that the greatest lift per air horsepower occurs at area ratios above 0.10, where the greatest lift augmentation occurs. The data show that annular-Jet vehicles are unstable at ratios of height above ground to nozzle diameter above about 0.10. The stability of the annular-jet vehicle can be improved by the use of large center jets. Base compartments also reduces the unstable moment.