"Golfball effect" thinktank...

[MARTINSR]

Here are a couple of interesting golfball effect links for your enjoyment.

MYTHBUSTERS prove golf ball dimple theory on cars works!!!

MPG-Plus™, Drag Reducing Technology, Improve MPG, Vehicle Wraps, FastSkinz™

Brian

[IRONICK]

Originally Posted by Otto

Got pics?

Nope, sorry.

Another car with golfball effect is VW Passat 1.6 TDi BlueMotion.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Here are a couple of interesting golfball effect links for your enjoyment.

MYTHBUSTERS prove golf ball dimple theory on cars works!!!

MPG-Plus™, Drag Reducing Technology, Improve MPG, Vehicle Wraps, FastSkinz™

Brian

Search is your friend:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...aims-8321.html

[eqmos]

So, obviously, it needs bigger dimples... Those look like negligible dimples.....lol..After reading the link
Fastskinz Dimpled Golf Ball Fuel Economy - 430-mile 2009 Ford Flex vs Ford Flex Aero Test - Popular Mechanics

From the link: Mythbuster's dimples were made into a thick layer of clay and were much more to scale with a golf ball dimple, and in fact, the dimples in this vinyl wrap are so small and not a gradual shape anyway, so not sure why anyone would think this would work.

So the vinyl wrap thing...only works over land-speed record speeds..and only works to improve mph, not mpg...at top speeds..

cool thanks

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by eqmos

So, obviously, it needs bigger dimples... Those look like negligible dimples.....lol..After reading the link
Fastskinz Dimpled Golf Ball Fuel Economy - 430-mile 2009 Ford Flex vs Ford Flex Aero Test - Popular Mechanics

From the link: Mythbuster's dimples were made into a thick layer of clay and were much more to scale with a golf ball dimple, and in fact, the dimples in this vinyl wrap are so small and not a gradual shape anyway, so not sure why anyone would think this would work.

So the vinyl wrap thing...only works over land-speed record speeds..and only works to improve mph, not mpg...at top speeds..

cool thanks

If they worked,they would work at any speed from 20-mph,up to 250 mph after which for us it doesn't matter what they do.

[Xist]

Hey guys,

In 2,004 I read the Popular Science article about Somender Singh grinding grooves in engines. The picture showed him and the exterior of one of his cars. The caption explained that it had golfball dimples. It seems like everyone focused on the engines. On another site someone suggested that the dimples worked like vortex generators. Aerohead, I know that you hate those. I believe that you say that they are band-aids for sloppy aero, although dimples would be far better in a crosswind, right?

Originally Posted by donee

Hi All,

To fill in some of Aeroheads remarks. The dimples on the new version of the Corbon Sparrow might (probably) be there for sheet-metal vibration reduction / sheet metal stiffening purposes. Dimple sheet metal like that and it gets quite stiff from work hardening, as well as the 3-d nature of the dimple feature.

That said, I think dimples will work on cars that look like golf balls. Right now, the only one is the New VW Beetle.

Originally Posted by micondie

Dimples on a car could work if you kept your car in a constant 180 degree spin like a golf ball something which I, for one, make every effort to avoid!

Great comments! Dimples are for spinning Beetles!

I do remember a picture in Popular Science around the same time of a new tin can design. It had a dimpled design that made it stronger, allowing thinner metal.

[Bicycle Bob]

There are sound reasons for dimples on golf balls. The same conditions very rarely occur on cars, and usually only over a small area in a specific crosswind. There is no panacea, or even a two-day course for a master's in streamlining.

[Xist]

I remember seeing informercials for "The Tornado," reading it, and coming to the conclusion that a water bottle was a poor model for an engine. I imagine that golfballs are also poor models for cars. What do you think about Major Puffer's post?

Originally Posted by Major Puffer

The fastest bicycle wheels on the planet are dimpled

[Bicycle Bob]

Those rims make some sense. With the tire in front, the dimples make no difference, since any tread, and the tire-rim interface are boundary-layer turbulators. At the back of the wheel, with the rim leading, the thicker boundary layer may close easier behind the rounded tire shape. Maybe. There is still turbulence from other leading parts to do that job much of the time in the real world. And dimples can work to confuse both customers and competition, if not the producer as well. Bicyle riders are also notorious for riding faster if they only think that new parts are helping.

[euromodder]

Dimples on a car would work great if cars were spherical.

They may well work on rounded areas on the rear of a car though, to help the air make the corner and reduce the wake, as they do on golf balls.

A separation-ridge is probably less awkward though