Quote:
Originally Posted by KamperBob
Wind tunnels are expensive. Tufts are cheap. ABA testing is where the rubber meets the road. Full tank testing can be expensive and that kinda of data tends to be dirty (mixed inputs). A ScanGauge is your friend. Cardboard prototyping is prudent. Be scientific. Document everything. Learn from every improvement and setback. Take pix and share so others can help. A happy ending is inevitable. 
Cheers
KB |
I'm kinda thinking I will have to have to make a few scale shapes from wood and see if I can get a college's VRI to test them for me.
My basic understanding, is that 12* is the max angle change to prevent air separation. So , in theory, if I angled the sides of the front fenders inward no more than 12* from the front wheel opening forward, and followed that same rule all around as much as possible, it should yield good results.
My design I've been drawing on for over a year now is pretty radical. 40" tall and just under 13' long, single cam honda engine mid mounted with the radiator in the chopped boat tail. To save weight and height there is no seats, the cushions go right on the floor. ~25* layback on the seats allows occupant height up to 6'-6", and surprisingly it's pretty comforatable(tested by blocking a racing seat and measuring. Lastly, I currently have a airflow channel down the bottom center of the vehicle. At the passenger compartment it measures 1 foot wide and 18" tall and it tapers wider and slightly taller at the front, only impeded by the steering rack and shift linkage. At the engine, an upside down wing shaped oil pan will help ramp the channel air under the motor. The rear boat tail will truncate at ~10" tall, the sides consisting of the tailights and the center being radiator drawing the air into the void at the truncation(thru the radiator).
My biggest worry at this point, is that the front will be so light it could get ugly at speed. I need to carefully shape the nose to produce a slight amount of downforce as speed increases. It's my hope the air accelerated under the car and thru this "channel" will do just that while decreasing drag.