PENINGKATAN UNJUK KERJA SEAPLANE PADA SAAT TAKE OFF

Abstract

A seaplane is a type of aircraft designed to operate both on water and on land.
Similar to conventional airplanes, seaplanes undergo several processes before taking off,
with takeoff being a critical moment influenced by various factors such as speed, runway
length, center of gravity, and the aircraft's lift capability. Since a seaplane uses water as its
runway, this study investigates the addition of fins to the underside of the seaplane to
potentially enhance its lift during takeoff on water and to observe the effects of adding a 100
kg engine on lift performance. The study utilizes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
software with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method, modeling two phases: water and air. Three
models are analyzed: a seaplane with wings, a seaplane with wings and fins, and a seaplane
with wings, fins, and an added 100 kg load. The simulation results indicate that the seaplane
with the added fin has a significantly improved lift force compared to the seaplane without
the fin, with an increase of 276% when in the water. Additionally, as the fin is submerged
deeper into the water, the lift force generated also increases.