WIG輸送効率の調査並びに新輸送効率パラメータの提案

抄録

In the first part A, operational efficiency (WV/P) vs. V of existing WIG vehicles are investigated, although it is limited to ones on which enough data are available for estimating (WV/P). It is found that the domain of WV/P values of WIG are considerably wide. In the second part B, an improved operational efficiency parameter, named “Modified Effective L/D (MELD)” defined as M (WV/P) is proposed. MELD is non-dimensional; M=V/a is an artifitial Mach number, where a is the sonic speed on the standard day at the sea level. MELD has a limiting value of ten and named “Ando's Number.” In the diagram MELD vs. V, better groop of WIG's are rather superior to hovercrafts and hydrofoils as well as helicopters. But, when the payload is used in stead of gross weight, WIG seems to be comparable with passenger car.