Visualizing Air Flow: here's an idea

[freebeard]

You know how you tell a happy motorcyclist? Bugs in their teeth.

Poiint was, steel weighs more, even when it's molten.

[CigaR007]

I suppose there is much less risk trying this out at the rear of the vehicle. In the end, that is where the drag reduction gains will be, for the most part.

It just would have been cool to visualize the entire flow trail.

[freebeard]

Soap bubbles [filled with smoke]. They will rinse right off.

[aerohead]

1) I believe that the forebody spark generator, as shown, would alter the air flow. Anything 'larger' than a smoke wand would.
2) The wake unit is probably okay, however, as freebeard eluded to, the mass, inertia, and momentum of the glowing metal particles would prevent them from behaving as 'smoke', or 'hydrogen-filled, neutral-buoyancy bubbles' which more accurately behave as air.
3) It would be 'way out ahead of nothin'', as the late Bob Parsons used to say, but more 'qualitative' than 'quantitative' in representing 'reality.'
4) Just don't start any fires.'

[AdrianD]

Originally Posted by CigaR007

That's a valid concern. I don't know.

Odds are it would probably cause some damage.

Tests would need to be undertaken on a variety of surfaces, prior to attempting it on an actual vehicle.

Pitted glass for sure. Try getting sparks from an angle grinder on glass surfaces for a demo.

[j-c-c]

Originally Posted by CigaR007

I wonder if most of the particles would just flow downstream with the laminar flow, without much contact with the surface paint.

Side mirrors and the front bumper are another story, given that they would be obvious obstacles where the heated particles would do the most damage.

Well, it's really a thermal mass and velocity question IMO.
My bet is no damage whatsoever, mainly because of both the factors mentioned above. Only precaution I might take is a fresh coat of hard wax to improved slipperiness of the painted surfaces. Mirrors and bumper would need to be avoided.

[j-c-c]

Originally Posted by AdrianD

Pitted glass for sure. Try getting sparks from an angle grinder on glass surfaces for a demo.

But that is stationary glass with little air movement, Try is with a fan pointed at the glass surface and I suspect the results would be much different.