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Old 10-14-2010, 06:55 PM   #25 (permalink)
aerohead
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thoughts

Quote:
Originally Posted by dpero View Post
No thoughts on this?
Your design is something like what Walter Korff of Lockheed had advocated for an 18-wheeler trailer van in 1963.
He and Kamm and Fachsenfeld would have liked the rear as it embodies the 50 % frontal area cross-section and reduced wake.
I would think about some radius on all your forward and upper edges.
A foil on the tow vehicle and movable gap-fillers between 'vehicles' might allow you extra interior space in the trailer,using the tow vehicle for all the 'penetration' with the trailer in full draft behind.Hucho says there is as much as 10 % extra fuel economy right there.
If you were near a university with a modest wind tunnel you could throw some money at the grad students and let them do a scale-model study.
I have a 22-foot sailboat which will be reversed and inverted to create the body for a 5th-wheel RV trailer with full boat tail.I believe it would pull like magic.
I think yours might too!
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