Aero spokes?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I learned a new word[s].

Isn't this adapted from motorcycle concepts?
I can see this taking off like wildfire!

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by freebeard

vena contracta

I spent an entertaining but fruitless hour trying to find a jpeg I saved years ago. It was an early example of using 3D graphics to show anatomical details and was a chart of branches in arterial/veinal structures. As a general rule, sidebranches were at 60°, not 90° and the main flow path was non-linear (i.e., hydro-formed).

The closest I have been able to find is this:

Possibility of Atherosclerosis in an Arterial Bifurcation Model

This is a model simplified for computational purposes; reality more closely follows Victor Shauberger. 3D printed induction/exhaust will rule.

Here you can see that in a Venturi,special care is taken with the decelaration ramp profile to prevent separation in the diverging duct

If you 'revolve' the venturi around a central axis you get a pretty nice 'template.'

In the Borda tube,you can see Lanchester's line of discontinuity creating a streamlined cavitation.The water is attempting to be 'streamlined.'
If you didn't know what you were looking at,you'd swear that your were looking at a Venturi.

[chillsworld]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Isn't this adapted from motorcycle concepts?
I can see this taking off like wildfire!

The first person to utilize this design in the real world, that I know of, was Billy Lane. He took the bearing from a military helicopter to make his rear wheel on his chopper. I think I've heard told that it costs between $10k and $25k just for the bearing.



EDIT: Look up the cars from the moive Tron Legacy... I've always wondered if a hubless wheel could be adapted for extreme aero capabilites.

[freebeard]

Centreless wheel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Franco Sbarro, 1989.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by chillsworld

The first person to utilize this design in the real world, that I know of, was Billy Lane. He took the bearing from a military helicopter to make his rear wheel on his chopper. I think I've heard told that it costs between $10k and $25k just for the bearing.



EDIT: Look up the cars from the moive Tron Legacy... I've always wondered if a hubless wheel could be adapted for extreme aero capabilites.

Some would pay just for the novelty.And as soon as it sold,it would signal the market that there was $$$$$$$$$$$ in it.It would take off from there,whether it was actually better or not.
PS you could add hamsters inside for a 'bio-hybrid' drive.

[freebeard]

Anyone on Volksrodders' The Cutting Board forum who mentions hubless wheels is mocked mercilessly. Attitudes in the gen pop may be different—at least until the problems with Foriegn Object Damage and servicability become better known.

My favorite, because it's home-brewed and bicycles scale down the problems, the Lunartic bike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPsY2NfPJtw

Lots of CG renderings at hubless wheel bicycle - Google Search

[chillsworld]

It's always been my understanding that hubless lowers rotating mass and increases aerodynamics on two wheeled vehicles. They have been successfully made and used on daily driven choppers for quite a while now. Most sportbike, car, and truck designs have been one off concept cars and most weren't functional. There is a company that will make you a TRON bike for $55k

When used on 4 wheel vehicles, they say it makes steering response immediate and near perfectly accurate compared to normal methods of steering the wheels of the vehicle... Although I'm not sure how these people claim to know that? I've never seen anyone post the benefits/downsides of using them IN a wheel well? I also know, that they work well with high hp and torque motorcycle engines because it is chain/belt driven and attached in a linear fashion to the frame. But most of the critics I've seen in forums, discuss their inability to handle the torque and suspension dynamic when used in a car... They say it's perfect use being that of hubless wheels with electric motors in each wheel

What about polycarbonate wheels? You don't like wheel covers, but you don't want the bad aero of spokes and open wheels. So what about a see through wheel? It seems they are expensive, although I don't know if that needs to be the case if you could find someone willing to make them for you. Most downsides talk about the ability to handle lateral force and of course speedbumps... But you guys don't exactly drive like most people, so this could be a viable option?







Images are from these two articles in 2006 when they first hit the show scene @ $2k a piece
SEMA: Clear wheels steal the show - Autoblog
Clear polycarbonate car wheels hit for $2,000 apiece

~C

[jeff88]

Have been trying to follow this thread, but I'm thoroughly confused.

Would these wheels on the VW GTI count as a 'good' alternative to full wheel covers?

[serialk11r]

On that note, this is a Prius from the Toyota website:


The spokes have fairings going the wrong way??

Another one I saw on the road had the standard wheels (I think those are 17" optional wheels), and the wheel cover was covering the outermost 1" of the rim, and left the hub area exposed.

[freebeard]

It's always been my understanding that hubless lowers rotating mass and increases aerodynamics on two wheeled vehicles.

The front wheel would likely benefit in cross-wind conditions.

The polycarbonate wheels would function equivalent to a solid, recessed disk. They'd work better with a Moon disk over them.

jeff88 -- the flush, flat spokes would be preferable to rounded and recessed, so I vote yes.