06-23-2009, 06:13 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 813
Thanks: 5
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
|
Teardrop roof for boxy SUV?
The relatively small chamfer between my Cherokee's windshield and roof makes me think that airflow separates up there, creating a lot of extra drag. Could that effect be reduced on vehicles like this with a teardrop shaped / half aerofoil roof? Yes, the frontal area would increase, but I think it could be worth it.
|
|
|
Today
|
|
|
Other popular topics in this forum...
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 06:17 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 813
Thanks: 5
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
|
A small tail could also be grafted on
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 06:44 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Utah
Posts: 388
Thanks: 47
Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts
|
wow! It looks like you have welded a parking garage to the top of you Jeep. ;-)
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 06:50 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sanger,Texas,U.S.A.
Posts: 16,367
Thanks: 24,464
Thanked 7,401 Times in 4,795 Posts
|
roof
My opinion would be to leave the roof as is,and go after the wake.I'm going to try and give you a link.It's a photo of a Rabbit with a similar roofline and completely attached flow,and then you'll see the enormous wake that's robbing you at the gas pump.-------------------------------------------------------- http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-ae...ere-money.html
MODERATOR EDIT: Added by cfg83 :
Last edited by cfg83; 06-23-2009 at 07:00 PM..
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 06:53 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sanger,Texas,U.S.A.
Posts: 16,367
Thanks: 24,464
Thanked 7,401 Times in 4,795 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
My opinion would be to leave the roof as is,and go after the wake.I'm going to try and give you a link.It's a photo of a Rabbit with a similar roofline and completely attached flow,and then you'll see the enormous wake that's robbing you at the gas pump.-------------------------------------------------------- http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-ae...ere-money.html
|
Whoops! that put the whole enchilada up.Go to "other vehicles,page-2,down to line 5,and over 3 photos to see Rabbit wake.
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 06:56 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Charlotte NC / York SC
Posts: 728
Thanks: 120
Thanked 56 Times in 52 Posts
|
It looks like it should clean things up a bit.
Break out the cardboard and duct tape and find out !!!
Adding a partial kamm like metrompg should help as well. I'm trying to get SHMBO to let me add one to her SUV.
Keep us posted as to how much improvement you get.
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 07:21 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ames, IA
Posts: 419
Thanks: 4
Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts
|
I've noticed on mine about halfway up the windshield rain drop start to flow up at high speeds. Plus more and more SUV's I've seen have that tail, so i'm guessing it's there for more then looks. It's a big project, but it may smooth things out a bit.
__________________
Adjusted for my driving habits. 80%city/20%Highway.
20mpg city/30mpg highway or bust! Check out my mods so far
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 07:29 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Utah
Posts: 388
Thanks: 47
Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts
|
I'm with aerohead on this one. The wake at the back is far more detrimental than the flow separation at the front/top.
(sorry for my lame joke earlier but, look at the pictures closer) (tough crowd)
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 09:37 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 813
Thanks: 5
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
|
I'm pretty sure there is no way I could create anything that would really work. It's too big to build with cardboard IMO. I also think it would need chamfered edges to avoid creating a lot of vortices
|
|
|
06-23-2009, 09:39 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 813
Thanks: 5
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FastPlastic
I've noticed on mine about halfway up the windshield rain drop start to flow up at high speeds. Plus more and more SUV's I've seen have that tail, so i'm guessing it's there for more then looks. It's a big project, but it may smooth things out a bit.
|
You think the front is so blunt that it creates a wake that extends halfway up the windshield?
Maybe a deflector on the front would be useful too
|
|
|
|