Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bullis
Yes, there will be separate aerodynamic entities near the ground, but these are very low profile so that the drag on these, including ground effect associated with these, is not large compared to the main aerodynamic entity which is the thin upper body.
So the two ways I know to achieve the two feet are attached with thin struts designed also to make the main body work as it would in free flow. These will not be as close to the ideal as the supports used in wind tunnel measurements, but the objective is to get as close as possible to this condition.
|
The wheels and the batteries and the motors all reside in the lower half. It is definitely not negligible. It has wheels that have to be faired or have strakes, and the bottom will have exactly the same issues as any other shape near the ground.
Separating the masses does nothing to avoid the problem you are fixated on. In fact, it probably introduces a bunch of additional problems.
And if you design it to be narrow, like the Tango, and want to try to have separate wheel sections, with articulated steering, that doubles again the challenges: hydraulics, control systems, structural stress from the "arch" of the passenger pod spanning between the wheel pods.
Ultra-efficiency demands simplicity. No added weight, no added complexity -- simply keeping the wheels precisely aligned is the absolutely most basic function of an efficient car. The simplest structure is a straight line between the wheels.
The Miastrada design is anything but simple.
Aerodynamically complex with interaction between the lower portion and the ground AND the upper portion with the lower portion.
Structurally, it is exceedingly complex.
Driving controls are very complex, with drive-by-wire demanded for steering at least.
Entry and exit is like an airplane at a terminal, and the seating design is tough.
Center of gravity issue won't be easy -- the Tango "solves" it by adding about 900 pounds of lead as low down as possible. This has to go into the lower portion, and guess what?
You are going to get aerodynamic interaction with the ground, unavoidably, with this design.