what is the Cd of my trike?

[drmiller100]

Note the back is "behind" the front - so I add the frontal area of the hood plus the frontal area of the "greenhouse" - windows and above.

Any guesses on Cd?

Aero?

under .20????? (I am hoping?????)

[kach22i]

How long have you had this one?

[drmiller100]

started it last december - hoped to have it done for the vetter challenge in call, but didn't get it done.

new hope is on the road in the next 2 weeks..... depends on money/time.

[NeilBlanchard]

Have you tuft tested it? I don't think it will be below 0.25, but it might be close to that -- the front fenders are probably going to have turbulence behind them. Does the cooling air exhaust out behind the front fenders?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

.............. the front fenders are probably going to have turbulence behind them.

That was my first concern, so much so that I assumed this was a found object being finished up for fun.

I've put a big white "X" in where I think infill from the front fenders may help.

Automobile 2 - Odds and Ends pictures by kach22i - Photobucket


Perhaps a NACA inlet would work where the red "X" is.
SDS EM-4: Aircraft


A photo I took last week:
Lingenfelter-2012 pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

[drmiller100]

Originally Posted by kach22i

That was my first concern, so much so that I assumed this was a found object being finished up for fun.

I[/IMG]

i bet your baby is ugly also.

it is pretty obvious, even to someone as dumb as me, some infill would help things out.

but it sure is nice having doors which open. and windows which go up and down. and the ability to use factory doors off a donor car.

and strangely enough, aesthetics are apparently important if I want to ever sell some of these. the cheese wedge look is not appealing to the ladies.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by drmiller100

i bet your baby is ugly also.

Sorry, I did not mean to sound rude.

I'm sure when it's painted a pretty shiny color it will be much prettier.

The practical aspect of door operation is appreciated.

I did recently photo an Enzo Ferrari which somehow gets away with a similar detail.

Lingenfelter-2012 pictures by kach22i - Photobucket


And the rear vent facing forward is also rather large.




The downside:
Ferrari Enzo

The Enzo has an aerodynamic drag coefficient as poor as 0.36, virtually back to the Testarossa era. However, like Formula 1 cars, its emphasis is on downforce and therefore handling. When you have 660 horsepower on tap and 217mph top speed, you know how important downforce is.

In my opinion, you have something closer to large motorcycle faring/cowling. However when compared to most cars, that is still a very low frontal area, so it's probably a wash.

Some positive changes worth considering.
http://s184.photobucket.com/albums/x...%20and%20Ends/

[skyking]

If you want to get anything out of this site I suggest you quit taking things personally.
It would be a piece of cake, so to speak, to fair in the area in question during testing. Reach out the window and close a second panel, etc.
Then you'd know for sure the cost/benefit. I could make it faired off and still use that door and still have it all work if you are interested.

[skyking]

are you going to close in the front wheelwells, Basjoos-style, with a door?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by skyking

are you going to close in the front wheelwells, Basjoos-style, with a door?

I looked it up:
Basjoos Tells All About His "95 MPG" Aerocivic | Autopia | Wired.com


Good question, that would help too.

I do not have true side and plan views of the trike in question, so I cannot overlay a template. However, the rear looks like it could be extended some.

Automobile 2 - Odds and Ends pictures by kach22i - Photobucket


Ain't nothing going to re-attach at the rear, unless the front is done right - in my opinion.