Aerodynamic of the reverse tear...

[Prem]

Well there you go Conestoga.

Ain't life easy sometimes?!

Prem

[Arne]

google 'mythbusters dimpled car'....

quote:

The show's team completely covered a last-gen Ford Taurus with modelers clay and figured out that it would achieve

about 26 mpg at a constant 65 mph.

They then went about adding over 1,000 dimples to the car's exterior. To keep the experiment consistent, all 1,082 dimples removed from the clay exterior were put in a box and set in the back seat so that the car would weigh exactly the same as before dimpling. The theory is that, like a golf ball, the dimples would reduce the car's drag through the air, thus allowing it to travel the same distance at the same speed using less fuel.

The result? Over 29 mpg

[Conestoga]

...
The result? Over 29 mpg

Thanks Arne, yeah! 3 mpg better, loaded with clay.
What is happening there? Mythbusters are not exactly slouches.
Could it be the same reason this has dimples on its rear and fenders?
(in no way am i inferring this is performance vehicle...)

[Conestoga]

Having never worked on a trailer or anything like it, I have no build advice. However... as a dog musher, my friends and I can hook you up with an endless supply of building materials for your project. Come spring time those with alaskans, siberians, mals, and samoyeds blowing coat can also supply more than enough 'fiber' to mix in for structural integrity.

We mushers will recognize you as one of us by smell of course, and you will be instantly welcomed into our fraternity.

Good idea Meg! Unfortunately dog hair is flammable. I'm not an expert in such things but I suspect we'd have to come up with an alternative for setting the mixture.

[Prem]

Conestoga,

Dimples only on the trailing sides of low velocity vehicles? That's a new one on me. Wonder if it improved anything.

Prem

[Conestoga]

Conestoga,

Dimples only on the trailing sides of low velocity vehicles? That's a new one on me. Wonder if it improved anything.
Prem

Maybe they make the clumps of mud easier to kick off?
(The company that produced the above electric car did not do well.)

My apologies for hijacking this thread with trivia.

Andrew disagrees about dimples, but until I find a convincing explanation I will continue to be impressed by the improved performance of the dimpled Taurus on Mythbusters.

[Prem]

Conestoga,

Nothing more fun than a good humor hijack!

Dimples on flying machines: I read years ago that the Air Force experimented with them and then moved on to a cheese grater outer hull that was rotated at high speed whisking away the boundary layer of air to reduce friction/increase speed. Behind the outer hull was an inner hull and between them was intake for a turbine. The compressed exhaust could be directed straight down or angled for directional control. Gyroscopic action also. Guess what shape the hull was?

I probably shouldn't have mentioned this, as I am sure you will abandon your trailer plans and start building one out of manure and other composite materials now...probably over at Andrew's secret bunker/shop in Nevada called Area 50.

If something reeking of sulphur compounds and methane hovers and lands in my backyard, I will immediately know that it's you and not Martians or anything out of those LEFT BEHIND novels.



Prem

[Ageless]

Tom Swift and the Compostible Teardrop?

[Conestoga]

Guess what shape the hull was?

the first thing that came to mind was a corn cob. dried. you know, with deep red flaky bits flying off as it sails thru space.

however, you are right. i am secretly building in Area 814. moo.

[Prem]

Conestoga,

Something like this:


Prem

[rowerwet]

big problem I had with that mythbusters segment, they only ran the track one way start to finish each time, anyone into speed record setting knows you have to make a return pass on the same track within a close amount of time to negate tail wind effect.

[artwebb]

E mail to their webb site, sometimes they re visit myths becuase of such suggestions

[Arne]

this is very impressive from a honda civic.

http://www.aerocivic.com/

[gullywompr]

I'm sorry folks, but I have to disagree - no matter how how rounded and streamlined the shape, applying manure is more likely to slow a vehicle down, for example:
[/img]

[artwebb]

^^^^^Now that's just wrong