View Single Post
Old 12-16-2008, 05:07 PM   #6 (permalink)
CobraBall
EcoModding Apprentice
 
CobraBall's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North Texas
Posts: 112
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfg83 View Post
aerohead -
...aero-mods "always help"...
CarloSW2
Kammback creates drag. It doesn't reduce drag.

To make an object stable while in motion, the center of gravity must be forward of the center of pressure. This is true for high speed automobiles, airplanes, rockets or javelins.

Kammbacks are used in Top Fuel Funny Cars for two reasons. 1. to keep downforce or pressure on the rear tires. 2. To increase drag aft of the CG.

In the movie World's Fastest Indian Burt Munro did a stability demo with a pencil, the pencil became stable when the CG was moved forward of the CP. Burt wanted to add weight to the front end of his Indian MC to shift the CG forward of the center of pressure, thus make it more stable.

IMHO, dams, wings, spoilers, kammbacks are "thangs" that are used to overcome bad aero design. Anything and everything that has mass and moves in a fluid creates drag.
  Reply With Quote