Dynamic ground Effects to Minimize Damage???
 

Does anyone else feel that eventually, automotive-type vehicles will use some sort of dynamic ground effects to mitigate or even negate pavement/curb damage?

I am leaning that way on my next aero vehicle. I understand it adds cost and complexity, but I still want to get the most aerodynamic benefit in the configuration as possible.

As a matter of fact, I have what I believe is an ideal, lightweight way to do it. Just not ready to blab about that now.

dynamic
 

It's been on my list long time.And I think off the shelf technology could do it,yesterday.
Cost,complexity,lifespan,parts,service,........... .... the whole echilada,will always play its part in the market.
If it's a net profit proposition in light of the 'headache' then maybe.
Certainly,it's no impediment to whacko's like us who want to push that envelope to bursting.
Sensors,logic,A-to-D converters,op-amps,solenoids,servos,pneumatcs,hydraulics,cables, springs,air pumps,vacuum pumps,FLIR,acoustics,optical recognition,laser-ranging,..................... there's a vast toolbag awaiting us.

Springs are the easy option. Many vehicles have ground effects that can fold/swing backward if bumped into a curb.

adjustable right height is by far the best say. At low speed raise the car up. At high speed lower the car as you reduce under car air and lower your frontal area.

VW Corrado's had rear spoiler that came up at 45mph, down around 5 or 15 to improve rear visibility at slow speeds. Turn that style mechanism around to go down. Rubber garden edge trim is cheap and is self clearancing.

would an air damn back at the edge of front tires be better than none at all? air would pack from it to front bumper under car, but less chance of getting damaged. Seen production cars like that. GM comes to mind.

Cars with air suspension can easily adjust ride height. But most cars have changes to alignment and suspension geometry as ride height changes. Set alignment at traveling height, the change to toe/camber/caster might not cause too much tire wear below 5mph at parking speed when height goes up.

Personally, I prefer K.I.S.S. Keep it stupid simple.

That may work for the average Ecomodder with an automobile.

But my Ecomodder vehicle is an 80,000 lb. BFT, with air ride cab, air ride tractor suspension, and air ride trailer suspension.

I think some steel/aluminum ground effects mounted on hinges with some heavy-duty torsion springs would do the trick.

BTW, saw a feature on the truck in a recent Desktop Engineering - nice work so far :)

My travel trailer design depends on squatting down to reduce frontal area and air underneath. it has been suggested by some that a trailer only 6" off the ground with a smooth belly might be worse off than a higher one in the drag department.
I imagine a detrimental sort of "suction", more like a nightmare :eek:
If it is proven that I am being paranoid, I will "keep on keeping on" with it, and use the vehicle's VSS signal to trigger a raising event at 20 MPH or so.
The truck I will push down to a practical 8" or so in front. Low enough to help, not low enough to ding on a common curb.

In the Northeast snow clearance may become an issue on occasion. See Dr. Joseph Kastner on race car aerodynamics ground effects. The aim is low drag rather than downforce. You could activate a subframe assembly using air cylinders.

Several of the higher-$$ Porsches raise themselves up at low speeds, and squat down at higher speeds. I think there's at least one that also has a "driveway button" that raises the nose even further to (theoretically) avoid damaging the front splitter/spoiler/airdam when going up a driveway.

Check the Cayenne Turbo, the 911 Turbo, and the 911 GT2 from recent years. I've also read similar things about other high-end (high-$$) sporty or luxury cars.

Their system isn't cheap. A creative person could do the same sort of thing for much less.

-soD