Whale tubercles for trailing edge?

[NoCO2]

I can think of a lot of places where you could add these to the trailing edge of something on a car to improve drag CF.

- You could add a lip to the trailing edge of a hatch-back and it may work like/better then our standard VGs.
- You could add it to the trailing endge of the lips of the front bumper that some cars have
- You could add it to the trailing edge of side view mirrors

You might be able to put them in any of the places you might put normal VGs and it may have the same effect...

[diesel_john]

darn these blades are obsolete.

[trebuchet03]

Nice thread... I think I included tubercles in my mega write up... but I'm with donee on this one

I do not see a real obvious eco-modder applications. But it certainly would be a great thing for these big wings they put on ricer cars. They could generate more downforce for less drag.

These are useful when you have a sharp leading edge on a plane parallel(ish) to flow... Like a turbine blade, whale fin etc. Ideally, one shouldn't have pointy bits, planar leading edges etc.

The working fluid is different as well. Somewhere in my fluid mechanics texts I have the method to calculate changes in fluid/speed/power/etc in order to do scale modeling. Buckingham Pi method IIRC

Reynolds number Make them equivalent by changing the density property, then adjusting velocity to keep a constant ratio...


Anyone know the average velocity of a whale with tubercles? Or better yet, the relative ocean velocity of a whale with tubercles?

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

Anyone know the average velocity of a whale with tubercles? Or better yet, the relative ocean velocity of a whale with tubercles?

"What do you mean? An English whale or an African whale?"


"Wha...oh...well...I don't know! AAIIEEE!" (Whoosh!)

[aerohead]

Fun read! Guess we'll all see if it goes in the marketplace.Ease of manufacture may be an issue.Thats some very sophisticated architecture. Pressure and velocity distribution could affect dynamic balance,and resonance ( flutter ) may affect structural integrity with high velocity applications, as there are so many local areas of impact,channeling,redistribution and discontinuities of aft-trailing -edge flow .Super-turbulence!Whales can articulate their flippers while turning,changing angle of attack at will as they pirouette in the water.The fluke of the whale is responsible for propulsion.I'd be more impressed if the tubercles were present in the fluke where the real power is laid down .Since whales communicate at extremely low frequency,could it be that the tubercles are "heard" by other would-be mating-age male whales and fertile in-season females,as tail-feathers are "seen" on the male peacock? Yep,I'm losing it alright!

[EricTheRed]

Airtab
This company has supplied this RV manufacturers, seem to be doing well with Semi's and Vette's too.

Image
Or was this known already?
-Eric

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by EricTheRed

Airtab
This company has supplied this RV manufacturers, seem to be doing well with Semi's and Vette's too.

Image
Or was this known already?
-Eric

A lot of people have been discussing Airtabs and a few have tested them on cars or pickups. Just type Airtab into the search box at the top of the page and you should get about 17 hits.

[Tango Charlie]

Originally Posted by elhigh

"What do you mean? An English whale or an African whale?"
"Wha...oh...well...I don't know! AAIIEEE!" (Whoosh!)

What if the whale is carrying coconuts?

You silly English-types! I faht in your genellal dilection!

[FX Flyboy]

Interesting idea. I'm thinking: canard configuration airplane with serrated edge main wing for stall resistance. General goal is low speed handling, agility and STOL characteristics. Need to do some more research though.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by FX Flyboy

Interesting idea. I'm thinking: canard configuration airplane with serrated edge main wing for stall resistance. General goal is low speed handling, agility and STOL characteristics. Need to do some more research though.

I think one of my low-speed DIY RC SPAD planes might be a good test-bed for a saw-tooth LE.


Since this type of coroplas wing has very little lift and can already fly at a pretty high AOA.

It will be very easy to tell if there is any increase in hoover and handling.

I've just got to figure out the best way to implement the saw-tooth
and get some stick time.. Hope to have a plane ready by spring time..