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Originally Posted by gtkid2002
Also, I noticed on Aerocivic that the rear underside of the boat tail slanted upwards. Is something like that ideal or should I just stick as closely to the template as possible.
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Air doesn't know where it is
So the aero-template can theoretically be used on all sides.
That said, the bottom flow is more disturbed by the proximity of the ground so treat it more gently
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You can still gently lift up the rear bottom (and reduce the size of the wake further )
if you add or have a (partial) boattail.
See the tapering (but still cut off) shape a) in the drawing.
Drag will be reduced most with about 3° angle.
and
Taken from the rear-diffuser thread at
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...er-1831-2.html
Without distracting from Mike's work, the rear of the Aerocivic might be slightly overcooked
If only someone would wind-tunnel test it
Quote:
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Should I try and follow the lines I drew up, or just inflate the sides so it very strictly follows the template?
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That looks almost area-ruled
You don't plan on going supersonic, do you ?
Try to more smoothly "boattail" the front fenders along the sides - they drop off way too sharply on the Beetle.
Something like this :
( Illuminati Motor Works )
Or this :
The doors may get in the way of the fairing though.
You could use a vertically hinged gap cover and a rounded leading edge on the covered part of the door to continue the boattail fairing on the door, much like a flap on an aircraft :
(see the covered gap on the bottom of the picture / top of the wing which is is upside down here)
Whatever solution you opt for, don't add extra frontal area by inflating the sides above the height of the front fender.
I'd fatten the rear fender ever so slightly (if necessary at all) and fully cover the rear wheel arc.