Hey guys,
In 2,004 I read the Popular Science article about Somender Singh grinding grooves in engines. The picture showed him and the exterior of one of his cars. The caption explained that it had golfball dimples. It seems like everyone focused on the engines. On another site someone suggested that the dimples worked like vortex generators. Aerohead, I know that you hate those. I believe that you say that they are band-aids for sloppy aero, although dimples would be far better in a crosswind, right?
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Originally Posted by donee
Hi All,
To fill in some of Aeroheads remarks. The dimples on the new version of the Corbon Sparrow might (probably) be there for sheet-metal vibration reduction / sheet metal stiffening purposes. Dimple sheet metal like that and it gets quite stiff from work hardening, as well as the 3-d nature of the dimple feature.
That said, I think dimples will work on cars that look like golf balls. Right now, the only one is the New VW Beetle.
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Originally Posted by micondie
Dimples on a car could work if you kept your car in a constant 180 degree spin like a golf ball  something which I, for one, make every effort to avoid! |
Great comments! Dimples are for spinning Beetles!
I do remember a picture in Popular Science around the same time of a new tin can design. It had a dimpled design that made it stronger, allowing thinner metal.