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Old 11-01-2020, 06:19 PM   #1 (permalink)
Cd
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Will these strakes cause more drag ?

After doing a crude tuft test of my car, I saw a problem area behind the rear wheels.
There was a lot of detached flow.
At first, I thought the detached flow was due to the angle of the side strake.
I had seen how touchy this area can be on some of the videos Darin has posted.

However, ater the test was over, I could see part of the problem was my crude fit and finish.
Air was tripping over the protruding side strake just behind the wheel.
Air was also smooth across the plastic light cover I had on the first test. ( It is at the same angle as side strake; so the angle of the side strake is apparently not the issue.
During the test, the area was also open,but this shouldn't have affected the air on the strakes ( correct ? )

Besides adding some curved wheel gap fillers ( here mocked up in cardboard) I also wondered if mini "air fences " would help to direct flow like the do on old fighter jets ( a good example being the MiG -15 )

From what I recall, fences don't work on cars.
However, you DO see mini "fences" a lot on tailights at the edges of the vehicle. ( Prius C has them on the lights ) and on mirror stalks to act as a vortex generator.

So just guessing, would you think these strakes help or hinder the drag on the rear of the vehicle ?

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