Three minutes of popular science
When it comes to the deck of an aircraft carrier, many people may think that this is a moving apron, nothing special, but in fact, there are many secrets on the deck of the aircraft carrier that you don't know, and every detail on the deck of the aircraft carrier has a special design and function, which is the embodiment of the combat effectiveness of the aircraft carrier. In this issue, let's take a look at what secrets are hidden on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
The design and materials of the aircraft carrier deck not only affect the performance and safety of the aircraft carrier, but also reflect the industrial and technological level of various countries.
First, let's take a look at the structure of the aircraft carrier's deck. Aircraft carrier decks are generally divided into two types: straight decks and beveled decks. The straight deck is the earliest type to appear, and it has the advantage of being simple and easy to build, but the disadvantage is that there is limited space for take-off and landing, it cannot be carried out at the same time, and if the landing of the fighter fails, there is a risk of crashing into other aircraft parked on the deck.
The beveled deck is a type that was developed later, and its advantage is that the fighters take off and land in separate spaces and do not interfere with each other, so they can be carried out at the same time, and if the fighters fail to land, they can bypass other aircraft on the deck and try again.
In addition to the beveled deck, there are other functional areas on the aircraft carrier deck, such as the landing area, take-off area, and docking area. The landing area refers to the area where the carrier-based aircraft lands, usually located on the right side of the beveled deck, and is equipped with arresting cables and arresting devices to slow down and stop the aircraft. The take-off area is the area where the carrier-based aircraft takes off, usually located at the forward end of the direct deck, and is equipped with catapults and catapult devices to accelerate and launch the aircraft. The docking area refers to the area where the carrier-based aircraft is parked and maintained, usually located in the middle and rear of the direct deck, and is equipped with fixtures and fuel supply devices to secure and support the aircraft.
Next, let's take a look at the materials of the aircraft carrier deck. Aircraft carrier decks are generally made of high-strength alloy steel, with a thickness of about 80 mm. This steel can effectively withstand the attack of armor-piercing warheads of anti-ship missiles, as well as withstand the impact of carrier-based aircraft when landing. However, this is not enough, the surface of the aircraft carrier deck must be coated with a special anti-slip coating, which is the "secret **" on the aircraft carrier deck
Coating decks isn't just about looking good, it's about preventing slip and absorbing energy!The purpose is to reduce the coasting distance caused by the brakes when the fighter lands, reduce the occurrence of accidents, so the anti-skid coating needs to have the characteristics of wear resistance, high temperature, high toughness and high elasticity, in addition, because the aircraft carrier sails at sea all the year round, the living conditions are very harsh, not only to face the wind and rain and sun, but also to face the erosion of seawater, so the aircraft carrier deck should also have the characteristics of corrosion resistance, waterproof, etc., and also need to regularly maintain and maintain the coating. Some people will say, since the coating is so important, is it not possible to get thicker, the better?Of course not, there are strict regulations on the thickness of the aircraft carrier coating, generally between 10 and 20 mm, too thick or too thin will affect its effect.
The main components of anti-slip coating are anti-slip granules, film-forming resins, etc. The formulations and processes of anti-slip coatings used on aircraft carrier decks in different countries are also different, which is related to the characteristics and needs of aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft in various countries. For example, the anti-slip coating used by the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the United States is composed of 40-50% aluminum oxide, 20-35% barium sulfate, and 10-20% epoxy resin, which not only has the ability to prevent fire, but also reduces radar reflections and reduces the detectability of the aircraft carrier. The anti-skid coating used by China's Liaoning ship is composed of silica sand, epoxy resin, polyurethane, etc., which has good heat resistance and wear resistance, and can also adapt to the take-off and landing methods of China's carrier-based aircraft. The anti-slip coating on the deck of an aircraft carrier may seem simple, but it contains a deep scientific and technological and industrial foundation. It is the "secret" of the aircraft carrier and the "lifeline" of the aircraft carrier.
All in all, the construction of the aircraft carrier deck is quite a test of technology, it is not only a take-off and landing platform for aircraft, but also the core area of the aircraft carrier, and its design and function reflect the combat capabilities and tactical thinking of the aircraft carrier. The development of the aircraft carrier deck is also a microcosm of the development of aircraft carrier technology, which keeps pace with the times and continues to innovate, providing a strong support for air power at sea.