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Old 08-04-2010, 11:16 AM   #15 (permalink)
Patrick
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C3H8 View Post
Those drawings of wings are airfoils that are intended to create lift, so that low horsepower airplanes can fly. You do not want a shape like that because you do not want lift in a car, nevermind an eco car.

A better shape would be that of a teardrop, or a tuna fish. (not a tuna fish can though).
I didn't mean to suggest that the car should be shaped like that. I was just showing that as the angle increases the area of separation does too, which increases drag. The second shot of the airfoil (when it's at a high angle of attack) is similar to the angle of the rear portion of the beetle and the flow is almost completely separated.
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