Anyone tried this?

[Guest]

Just a thought that is way beyond PWD but some ideas come from this video...

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWCgArIxU2o[/video]

Hi Papa V,

I like where you are going with this.

 

[Bullet]

Great discussion...cool car video and Nuna pix!

Usually it seems the more complex the shape the more drag goes with it, just a hunch for me. For calculation purposes, the only "area" used is the cross-sectional area of the car perpindicular to the direction of air flow. The NACA airfoils CHRISF referred to earlier seem to be the simplist and most effective reduction in drag for the body, however the body is smallest component of total drag when compared to the wheels. I read that a rotating wheel has a drag coefficient of about .58, I would guess this can be reduced to something like .40 with fenders(??) while the drag of one of those airfoils is like .0X or something. More food for thought...

 

[Guest]

Hey TX Chemist,

Thanks for the introduction to the series by this guy.

My niece and nephew are fascinated by it.

Best regards,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnUS2O4fQuI

 

[IAE Racing]

That was a neat idea about using airflow for steer. But I would have to agree with the statement of adding any control surface would also increase "drag" thus being a negative.

Now in the case of a stupid scout rule that would not allow a bent steering axle.....

 

[speed bump]

IAE on aircraft we use vortex generators to steer the air flow at slow airspeeds. I like that for the steering on the scout cars to.

 

[bracketracer]

It would take quite a balancing act to get just the right amount of rudder to get the steer you need with the least amount of drag. If it would then allow you to set the DFW with no toe, would the boost from not having DFW toe be enough to offset the drag increase from the rudder? I'm thinking it would be so difficult as to be impossible without luck.

 

[Guest]

It is my thought that the Bernoulli principle is already playing havoc with these cars.

It would take some research and testing, but I bet that wind is already playing a big role in steering these things.

It may be steering it the wrong way as things stand.

By directing the air, one may be able to not increase the drag at all from their normal set up, just steering it in the correct direction.

This might be one factor as to why each car has it's own particular preferences in terms of steer and weighting.

 

[Guest]

I've thought about some of these things in the past and soon realized that form follows function as they say.

Most "vehicles" have different sets of problems they are solving when considering aerodynamics.

Pinewood derby cars have a very unique set of problems very unlike other vehicles.

Exactly!

 

[speed bump]

Might b new trick with fenders? Deflect the air slightly to help steer? Use one one dfw offset angle. It's already moving air

 

[3phase]

Sounds like a rudder on a boat. Would you put it on top or bottom? How tall or short would it need to be?

 

[Crash Enburn]

Makes me wish we could have fenders on the BASX cars... 'Cause I was already toying with this design idea at our recent Pinewood Grand Prix.

 

[3phase]

Just came to me.

K.I.S.S. - No fender on NDFW. Would that not force it to steer ?

 

[speed bump]

3phase that's where I was headed to. Slight angle on one side and no fender on the other side.

 

[Guest]

I don't think we want to stick the paddle in water to make a turn though.

It would be better to paddle even faster on one side of the canoe.

I am trying to think of the fenders as wings standing upright.

 

[Guest]

I think you guys are onto something good here!!

 

[Guest]

I think you guys are onto something good here!!

Thanks pal,

It might just be hogwash but I am not too proud to try and fail.

 

[speed bump]

Is this number ten on dad's list for fenders ?

 

[Guest]

Thanks pal,

It might just be hogwash but I am not too proud to try and fail.

Hey, ya never know. This could be the next big breakthrough. I respect you for trying dog, regardless if it fails or succeeds.

 

[Guest]

I think you guys are onto something good here!!

Thanks pal,

It might just be hogwash but I am not too proud to try and fail.

DIS HERE BOY ALREDDY TOKIN BOUT ME DOWN N THE BOTUM OF HIS WURDS! IT AINT ROCKET BIOLOGY!

 

[Guest]

Hey Ballboy,

Do you come with subtitles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4BwG7UF-l4