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Old 09-16-2012, 04:29 PM   #4 (permalink)
jime57
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Join Date: Oct 2008
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OurInsight - '06 Honda Insight
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard View Post
My understanding is that The Template is a half body of revolution to insure that air doesn't want to move laterally because of pressure differentials between the top and sides, which leads to vortex generation.

If that's the case, wouldn't a half-square cross section serve as well, given equal cross-sectional area? If air is not wrapping across the edge, would no vortexes be created?

Here are three aeroforms, a cylinder, a superellipse and a square. Would their Cd be equivalent?


(These are not dimensionally highly accurate; I just eyeballed the proportions against The Template)

The next question: If the height/width proportion changes, what happens to the respective tapers? If the half revolution form is 7' wide, then it is 3 1/2' high. If the height is proportionally greater, does the side taper increase or relax?

TIA
Nice graphics. I have been rolling some of that over in my mind since I have been trying to get some thoughts down on a tadpole shaped special with seperater wheel fairings in front. I am leaning toward that approach because I can register it as a motorcycle. My basic shape would probably be half of a pumpkin seed, as Phil calls it, with tandem seating and a canopy. Would kinda look like a streamlined CanAm 3 wheeler. Still working out the front suspension and the seating layout.
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