"Snow Flow" testing?

[Recumpence]

Hey Guys,

I know I am not the first to think of this but, I wanted to ask;

We had our first snow yesterday. I noticed some specific air flow paterns preserved in the snow over my car. One thing I noticed in particular was the radius formed around the 4 air openings in my grille blocks. This happens to be the same radius I plan on replicating with materials I have on order (black Delrin that I will radius with a router). Anyway, the snow formed a fantastic looking radius in that area and some interesting shapes over the body of the car.

Oh, one major thing I noticed too is the relatively even spread over the body of the car versus my wife's car. The airflow is, obviously, FAR smoother omve my car than hers, as evidenced by the snow pattern.

Has anyone else used snow flow patterns as a way to do aero work?

Matt

[basjoos]

Snow patterns are a standard way of visualizing aero (you can also use the road dust patterns left after driving on dirt roads to visualize aero). Here are some older threads on the subject:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-mod-1129.html
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ack-20110.html
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...est-16191.html
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ure-11745.html

[kach22i]

See Post #13-16
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...a-19525-2.html


More from that thread:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post399204

[kach22i]

UPDATE: 02/02/2015

A near snow-less winter this year after record snow fall last year.

Here in Michigan we got 14.1 inches of snow on Super Bowl Sunday.



Note: no cab on my truck, that's snow!

[jeff88]

Is it an optical illusion or does the snow "kammback" actually curve, rather than being straight/flat?

[aerohead]

It looks sway-backed to me,like some sweet,worn-out,old mares we used to rent for a day's horseback riding in my childhood.

[whatmaycome14]

Here is my example from last winter:

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by jeff88

Is it an optical illusion or does the snow "kammback" actually curve, rather than being straight/flat?

Yea, I thought that was odd too.

It did not quite start out that way though.

Taken while snow was at about 12", max peak 32 mph winds coming head on to the truck.



Compare to final snow drifts.



Sort of some crisp edges on the upper parts.



The indented drift or scallop between the wheel-base is interesting.



The front air dam has a pronounced affect.



It is like a well or hole.



Saves on digging it out.




I am not sure what the snow "deposits" actually depict.

I want to assume that they show an idea aerodynamic shape formed by nature, but do not know for sure.

EDIT: I should note that I had no problems with the 14 inches of snow despite the dam only 7-1/2" off the ground.

[jeff88]

Looks like the front of your truck is all set! Other than the shelf the bumper makes, your snow test looks just about perfect up there!

That scallop in the foot step is interesting, I would have expected there to be more snow filling the whole indentation, not a scalloped effect.

I wonder why the bed ended up having the curved, rather than straight section?