View Single Post
Old 06-06-2008, 10:10 AM   #55 (permalink)
Shawn D.
Harebrained Idea Skeptic
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 211

The White Car - '84 Mercedes-Benz 300td
90 day: 28.84 mpg (US)

The Blue Car - '86 BMW 535i
Last 3: 23.86 mpg (US)
Thanks: 19
Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xringer View Post
Since the tape has a much lower profile (and lower drag?) than an AirTab, the tape could hardly be seen going across the top of a CRV just before the point of separation. (1 or 2 inches back from the edge?).
It's the net effect that matters. If a device has lower additional drag itself, but results in less overall drag reduction, that's not as useful as a device that has higher additional drag, but results in more overall drag reduction.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xringer View Post
I'm also wondering if ZigZag tape could be placed on the trailing edge of the hood? Would it help smooth the transition across the (metal-to-glass) gap? Perhaps allowing the windshield wipers to have less drag?
It would be of little use for that, for a couple of reasons:
  1. The hood-to-windshield transition is a low-to-high pressure transition. Flow doesn't separate in those transitions.
  2. If it did create more attachment and reduce the thickness of the boundary layer (neverminding #1 above), that would put the wipers in stronger flow, increasing drag.
__________________

  Reply With Quote