The *Ultimate* Aerodynamic Car? Dave Cloud's "Dolphin"

Wow, imagine what a bank of the new hyper efficient lithums (and thin film ultracaps for acceleration) could do....

Then all the 'Dolphin' needs is a couple vortex generators and a field coupled fish tail to capture the energy produced by aeroelastic flutter to keep the caps topped off...

The efficient production and shedding of vortices may be the future of vehicle aerodynamics.


TS

[ShadeTreeMech]

I'm just sayin' that's a VERY beautiful car. I'd rather have that than 2 ferraris and a lambo. Of course, if I sold that much rolling real estate I'd be very well off

[Bicycle Bob]

"
Then all the 'Dolphin' needs is a couple vortex generators and a field coupled fish tail to capture the energy produced by aeroelastic flutter to keep the caps topped off...

The efficient production and shedding of vortices may be the future of vehicle aerodynamics."

Flutter and vortices are wasted motion. A shape a pure as this does not need to be fixed up by such tricks. If I was asked to add one attached vortex to a slick shape, I'd use it as a virtual top for open-air motoring, unless I was told to reduce length as well.

Flutter and vortices are wasted motion.

Perhaps they're only wasted, if we waste them.

No disrespect intended, but there is much yet to be ascertained regarding an appreciable variety of efficient force coupling methods which make use of pressure differentials. As both Dolphins, Brook Trout, and a man named Viktor Schauberger have already been made aware, on various levels.

A good starting point:

Amazon.com: Living Energies: An Exposition of Concepts Related to the Theories of Viktor Schauberger (9780717133079): Callum Coats: Books

I mean, contrary to formerly accepted wisdom, nowadays they are using wind power to race directly upwind at 64% of windspeed....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0827104702.htm

And going downwind faster than the wind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDzWh9J1dk4#t=01m24s

What's next?


And we, at least the great majority of us, haven't seen anything yet...


Blessings,


TS

[dcb]

well it looks like we have parted ways with science here, or at least cause and effect, you all have fun theorizing now

well it looks like we have parted ways with science here, or at least cause and effect, you all have fun theorizing now.

I'm with your own signature on this one.


lol?


Cause and effect have been leapfrogging over one another waving red flags in the face of establishment science for ages.

And once every blue moon, the bull charges.

Only to result in everybody getting mauled by bears.





Or stampeding turtles.



Too messoteric, I know.







TS

[RobertSmalls]

I'm sorry, TechStuf, but the science is not on your side. Aerodynamics is a reasonably mature field, and a body that sheds vorticies is higher drag than a streamlined body. Take your vortex shedding zones and fill them with teardrops. That's what we do, and that's why we tuft test. There are dozens of examples of extremely low-drag cars that you can read about in the Aerodynamics forum, and you'll see that they all have extensive streamlining and attached flow in common.

This book comes highly recommended, though I haven't yet read it.

I'm sorry, TechStuf, but the science is not on your side.

Don't apologize, I'm quite comfortable and enjoy a pretty good view from up here on the other side of the Scale.


And besides, I'll have the last laugh when I've collected enough fish scales and owl feathers to cover my latest creation!


TS

[RobertSmalls]

As long as you do a few runs each of before and after coastdown testing, then you are a scientist and I will listen. Otherwise, you're just a guy building a Chia car and shouting about random fluctuations in your fuel log.

Vortex Generators have been covered at length in other threads, and they can be used effectively on the trailing edge of round objects, but that's it. Elsewhere, they just increase drag and frontal area. But again, if you don't believe the other scientists here, run your own trials.

Here's a case where a car's underside was originally covered in vortex generators. Covering them up reduced aerodynamic drag 10%:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ges-13199.html

[Daox]

If you wish to continue your discussion on something other than Dave Cloud's Dolphin, please start your own thread.