Teardop aerodynamics

[angib]

Just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, here is the photo that I post about every year of a one-off baggage trailer Honda designed for the Insight. With this trailer, the Insight has less drag than without it! But there's not a lot of headroom and the elastomeric fairing between the Insight body and the trailer probably cost no more than the car did. But the true cost of the wind tunnel time to develop it all was probably equal to 10 Insights.

[LandCommander]

ChasCABQ, I think it's great! I don't understand why more trailers aren't designed like this. I feel like it might look good if you went a couple degrees steeper.

Until I started reading about ecomodding and hypermiling techniques I wouldn't have guessed the truncated teardrop, or kamback with the flat back is more aero than a normal teardrop, its pretty counter intuitive.

That insight trailer thing is neato, makes me want to make the trailer longer to get the smallest amount of turbulence back there. I have heard of I flatable boat tails. Or something with fabric that you pop out before hitting the freeway and folds in for maneuverability. I see semi's with the fold out tail sometimes, thinking that but longer.

I want to make a full valence front cowling for my motorcycle, make it a velomobile. But I don't think I'll be able to split lanes as well with it...

[LandCommander]

I wonder what's up with the shark fin on that thing?

[ChasCABQ]

ChasCABQ, I think it's great! I don't understand why more trailers aren't designed like this. I feel like it might look good if you went a couple degrees steeper. ...

Thanks for the input. Here's a better view of the profile with my tow vehicle. I can't really go much steeper without affecting overhead hatch clearance since hinge allows about 90 deg. rotation. The rear height is actually with an inch of my tow vehicle's height.

Teardrop flatback II.jpg (100.01 KiB) Viewed 352 times

[angib]

I wonder what's up with the shark fin on that thing?

Probably to increase the visibility of the 'trailer'. Other drivers don't look near the ground.