Analysis of the Aerodynamic Drag of Selected Pneumatic Life Rafts

The success of the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation is strongly influenced by the accurate determination of the search area for the drifting pneumatic life raft, with particular emphasis on leeway. The article refers to the issue of leeway of life raft. The leeway is directly dependent on the force of wind pressure acting on the above-water part of the life raft and the hydrodynamic drag acting on the underwater parts of the life raft. The paper presents a comparison of different types of pneumatic life rafts. The purpose of comparing the dimensions, shapes and windage areas of different life rafts is to demonstrate the relationship between the shape and the aerodynamic drag on the above-water part of the life rafts. Research has shown the dependence of aerodynamic drag on the shape and size of the above-water part of the life raft. The calculations presented in this study are based on the author’s previous experimental and numerical research and results published in earlier publications.