Quote:
Originally Posted by bnmorgan
wonder if plasma is an option  |
NASA has already experimented with it on aircraft and abandoned the effort.
Aerodynamic drag on aircraft is ruled by surface-friction drag. Zero flow separation is presumed.
Automotive aerodynamics deals with bluff bodies and drag is dominated by pressure drag due to flow separation.
Even if you could eliminate the approximately 12% of surface friction drag on an automobile with plasma, it would do nothing for pressure drag. And it would increase the pressure drag, as you'd be killing the very turbulent boundary layer which is responsible for the low drag turbulent boundary layer responsible for attached flow.
I essence, you'd be taking the dimples off the golf ball. Bad! Really bad!