Enhancing naval aviation safety: a numerical study of superstructure modifications and airwake control in NATO Generic Destroyer (NATO-GD) model

Enhancing naval aviation safety: a numerical study of superstructure modifications and airwake control in NATO Generic Destroyer (NATO-GD) model | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Enhancing naval aviation safety: a numerical study of superstructure modifications and airwake control in NATO Generic Destroyer (NATO-GD) model Abd Elmenaim, Salaheldin A. Mohamad, Ahmed S. Shehata, Tahsin Tezdogan, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7720087/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Ship airwakes, or turbulent airflows produced by the ship's superstructure, introduce significant challenges to helicopter operations on naval ships. The landing deck may experience unstable aerodynamic conditions because of these airwakes, reducing operational safety. In this study, passive flow control methods developed to reduce the impact of airwakes on landing deck. Their effectiveness was evaluated using numerical simulations. Turbulence energy, recirculation zones and reattachment length were the main subjects of the study. The aerodynamic performance of two distinct modifications at the hangar's rear edges was evaluated using a 1/50 scale model of the NATO Generic Destroyer (NATO-GD). It is found that these modifications improved flow stability, significantly reducing reattachment length and recirculation zone by up to 79%. However, the hangar volume decreased slightly, as modification B with the largest fillet radius achieved the greatest reduction in recirculation zones. Its aerodynamic effectiveness varied with wind-over-deck speed, showing the modifications exhibited enhanced aerodynamic behaviour at higher tested wind-over-deck speeds, highlighting the effectiveness of passive design changes in improving helicopter safety on naval vessels. Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 19 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 18 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 23 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Oct, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Oct, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 26 Sep, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 26 Sep, 2025 First submitted to journal 26 Sep, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7720087","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":528758337,"identity":"c7bb7d9a-5212-49d8-a923-6c2d4e12a159","order_by":0,"name":"Abd Elmenaim","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABQUlEQVRIie2RMUsDMRTHXwjU5eTWlA79BEKqUBVb81XuCJzLLVIoHSuFuBy41kW/gl0yvxKoS7lbT+rQInQuuBSkYtpOeq2uDvkN4fFefrzwD4DD8Q8pAblBomzl94ZTxhvrJv924Sc+UESS2oqNJD/rROBtlGA9pDuVcrcUIPlcl3Gddcbmb4Wjx5Ho1+pRdxSxF5UJweTg7XoJVf8uQ1i0zR5lXtOmZ87v1SRMWNQ66QdQ6+cSSD/dqZiVNkTjKJyU1STwWFyveAGQbk6BHqqCItBf2MSM0BjzykqlwiqnH1YRj5kBuioq24cpE1rlmLExksRuoVYJn1ACJTsUs1Wkzm3IrCPDZDxvVbzIhpBLPkzSq4LynNSmVmnqbPOVl+LgVg7evUaj+ZANZ9Nl+6KQMi10trDNiXumDofD4fidL3hjfTyH52HZAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Arab Academy for Science Technology and Maritime Transport","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abd","middleName":"","lastName":"Elmenaim","suffix":""},{"id":528758339,"identity":"7ab2d8b0-3bfd-4b5d-8495-83088a3e1ef1","order_by":1,"name":"Salaheldin A. 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