Semester Project: Design and Fabrication of Hovercraft @University of Engineering and Technology Lahore City Campus

1. Project Title:
Design and Fabrication of
Hovercraft

2. Group Members:
Shahbaz Hussain 2014-ME-353
Murtaza Sabir 2014-ME-366
Umar Izhar 2014-ME-365
Hamza Saleem 2014-ME-351
Hafiz Muhammad Umar 2014-ME-394

3. Outline of Presentation:
 Introduction
 Models
 Elements of a typical hovercraft
 Design configuration
 Operation of hovercraft
 Cost factors
 Project completion statistics
 use of hovercraft
 Results
 Conclusion

4. Introduction:
What is Hovercraft ?
An hovercraft is a typical vehicle that
can move with equal ease on water as well as
on the ground. It is also known air cushion
vehicle.

5. Models:
1. SRN1:
The first practical
Model to be made. It
Was powered by one
(piston) engine, driven by expelled air and could
carry little more than its own weight and two men.

6. Models:
2. SRN2 AND SRN6:
Other developments led to larger and more
efficient hovercrafts that can carry more
passengers as compared to SRN1.
3. Vickers VA-3:
This was first true pass
engers carrying Hovercraft.

7. Elements of Hovercraft
 Hull:
This is where the driver operates the hovercraft. It
is the base for attaching other parts.
 Lifting System:
This consists of the a centrifugal pump attached to
the engine or motor and it provides the cavity underneath
the craft and also for filling the skirts.

8. Elements of Hovercraft
 Thrust System:
This consists of the propeller that moves air from
in front of the craft and accelerates it out the back. This
accelerated mass then pushes the craft forward.
 Skirt:
This is the flexible wall that is attached all around
the bottom of the craft. This skirt prevents the pressurized
air from escaping from the chamber.

9. Elements of Hovercraft
 Engine:
Its main function is to supply power to the
propeller.
 Control system:
This consists of the rudders that steer the craft
by directing the air from thrust system toward either
left or right.

10. Design Configuration
 With two engines, one for propulsion and other for
lift.
 They can be designed with one engine to perform
lift as well as propulsion by directing some of the
air to the skirt and rest to the back for thrust.

11. D.C Motors:
Specifications of Battery:

12. Design Considerations
 Carrying Capacity:
An hovercraft with large overall area can carry more
weight than smaller one with same fan. Therefore the should be
kept as large as possible.
 Aerodynamic drag:
Aerodynamic drag is the force that the thrust must
overcome. This force can be reduced by reducing frontal area.
 Thrust:
the propellers used must overcome the aerodynamic drag.
 Stability:
the location of the various components and loads so as not
to overload any particular area which may make the craft unstable.

13. Operation of the Hovercraft
 The lift fan pushes a large amount of air under the
hovercraft resulting the rise of pressure.
 As the pressure exceeds the weight of the hovercraft the
hovercraft begins to lift off the ground.
 Eventually the pressure under the hovercraft raises high
enough to lift the skirt off the ground.

14.  Equilibrium is reached At the specific point when
the forced air into the cushion is equal to the air
leaving the skirt.
 At this stage Hover is hovering at its maximum
height.
Operation of the Hovercraft

15. Material List and Detail:

16. Cost Factors*:
Material Quantity Material cost
Thermopore Sheets 2 200
DC Motors 10,000 RPM 1 1000
DC Motor 7000 RPM 1 600
Skirt Material 1 1100
Keel Plywood 1 120 per running foot
Lipo Battery 2 2000
Propellers 3 600
Controller 1 Not Specified Yet
* Rough Calculation

17. Usage of hovercraft
 Personal use.
 Search and rescue in oceans and rivers.
 Mass transportation (Vehicles, goods).
 Recreational purposes.
 Research and military uses.

18. Conclusion
 The hovercraft is in operation today throughout the
world for a variety of purposes and its use is
growing giving raise to new and improved designs
resulting in greater applications.
 With its safety and adaptability, it can become one
of the most important and economical means of
transport in future.