Making a more efficient, aerodynamic soapbox gravity race car

[freebeard]

I've got the welding rod, I could do a sample part.

Connecting the rods in the flutes with the semi- or completely buried perimeter pieces: Just [spot] welding it might work, or it might melt the coroplast. Bend a tab on the through pieces and you could tie it off with thread and paint that with epoxy. Apply any compound curvature to the sheet coroplast before rigidifying the ends.

[orengomotors]

Originally Posted by aerohead

I think that you're going to see a bunch of vorticity due to the hard edges.
I'm with Frank,recommending radius'd edges everywhere.
You're kinda 1/2-scale,so maybe a 40mm radius minimum.

Ok, how can i do the radius? with a tube 40m radius and a hammer? any other ideas?

Thank you

[orengomotors]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I The angled edges above the suspension might need a little eyebrow. The objections are to the edges across the flow.

something like this:



??

[freebeard]

That's actually nicer than what I imagined. But on the top instead of the front.

The target is 40mm. What's the diameter of the tubing in the top frame rail? Maybe you could cut the right-angle strips out of the part and rivet a curved section back in? Or uncut, with the curved section overhanging the square edge. It's edge might be curved as well.

[orengomotors]

Originally Posted by freebeard

What's the diameter of the tubing in the top frame rail? Maybe you could cut the right-angle strips out of the part and rivet a curved section back in? Or uncut, with the curved section overhanging the square edge. It's edge might be curved as well.

The tubing is 25mm diameter

[orengomotors]

What edges are you referring?



Only the blue one?

[orengomotors]

to compare, pick up some ideas and see what other teams run, and what i have to beat , the most common bodywork last year were:
- C4 ( my class ) by Sejkora:


-Bobcar ( two seater class ):



- c1-c3 (Junior class ):


- C4 (my class):



Those are the most common models because they are of the shelf and ready to use. On next post i will show you te custom ones, to see what my close rivals look like.

[BamZipPow]

I wonder if you could implement something like this?
FireFly's TRON-like shell keeps cyclists dry and visible

[BamZipPow]

Maybe you could use this technology?
The Recumbent Bicycle and Human Powered Vehicle Information Center

[Grant-53]

See the recumbent.com site for the HPV design software by Wayne Shook. Some of the most efficient shell designs come from Delft University.

If you can get steel piano wire it may be less expensive than welding rod to use as a stiffener for the coroplast. Check their website for the latest sizes and products including hex core panels.