aerodynamics question
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: SouthWest MI
You'd probably have to do something similar to what they did for the Lotus Motorsport Elise, which was to add a panel that latches between the rear buttresses and smooths out the flat area. That way you can take it off when cruising around (keeps original lines), or pop it in and go racing! 
I saw one of these spin off the track and actually LOSE the panel! Banged it up pretty bad since it was made of fiberglass! Driver was pissed. The car was on of only 5 in the US at the time.
Cheers,
Tony
I saw one of these spin off the track and actually LOSE the panel! Banged it up pretty bad since it was made of fiberglass! Driver was pissed. The car was on of only 5 in the US at the time.
Cheers,
Tony
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
I can make a fiberglass bubble that I could Attach to the C3, throw a system of latches and weather stripping. I just dont know how I would put in a rear window in it.
I was wondering what kind of effect a rear wing would have to the air flow around the rear drop of the panel
I was wondering what kind of effect a rear wing would have to the air flow around the rear drop of the panel
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Maybe a set of Vortex Generators just aft of the T tops. At speed maybe the boundary layer of air would be forced over the flat area.
If some some type of spoiler is added it might even be possible to increase down force.
Where's a wind tunnel when you need one
If some some type of spoiler is added it might even be possible to increase down force.
Where's a wind tunnel when you need one
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: SouthWest MI
Originally Posted by Guru_4_hire
I can make a fiberglass bubble that I could Attach to the C3, throw a system of latches and weather stripping. I just dont know how I would put in a rear window in it.
Cheers,
Tony
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
I think the visibility is already crappy enough thank you. I think I could just cut out a flat part and put in some plexyglass
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Originally Posted by Guru_4_hire
what exactly would I be looking for?
What ZD75blue is referring to is a method used to visually see what the airflow characteristics are over a given surface.
Short lengths of bright yarn (1/2" to 2") are taped on the surface in a grid with around 3"+ spacing.
The vehicle is then operated at speed and the yarn pattern is recorded, what you are looking for are areas of turbulent airflow (where the yarn strings are blown sideways or forward).
It would be ideal to get the airflow just aft of the rear window (77 and earlier) to be neutral with no turbulence.
I suggested Vortex Generators because they are used effectively on aircraft to modify airflow characteristics by creating a spiraling airflow that reduces turbulence.
I was thinking it may be possible to spiral the airflow over the rear deck area reducing the turbulence behind the rear window.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Here is a link that explains how they work. http://www.microaero.com/pages/v_howvgswrk.html
They are easy to make but expensive to buy.
They are easy to make but expensive to buy.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
I would be willing to apply these vortex generators on my C3. It would be interesting for some before and after tests.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Vortex Generators are an "L" or "T" shaped piece of metal or plastic, they are about 1" long and 1/4" tall. The front vertical edge is rounded over and the aft edge is left square.
There is a specific layout for them and I have it somewhere, so if you are interested I will try to find it.
You can do a web search for Vortex Generators to get a better idea of what they look like.
I made some for my plane by bending thin aluminum strips into an "L" shape and then cut them to length and rounded the front edge.
Double sided tape can be used to hold them in place for testing.
Go to the link I posted above, then go to Gallery and then to the Cessna A185F picture. The green stripe is a layout guide so you can get an idea how the leading edges are closer together than the trailing edges. The generators that this company sells look to be about 3/8" tall. Check out some of the other pictures.
There is a specific layout for them and I have it somewhere, so if you are interested I will try to find it.
You can do a web search for Vortex Generators to get a better idea of what they look like.
I made some for my plane by bending thin aluminum strips into an "L" shape and then cut them to length and rounded the front edge.
Double sided tape can be used to hold them in place for testing.
Go to the link I posted above, then go to Gallery and then to the Cessna A185F picture. The green stripe is a layout guide so you can get an idea how the leading edges are closer together than the trailing edges. The generators that this company sells look to be about 3/8" tall. Check out some of the other pictures.
Last edited by jetech; Jul 16, 2004 at 04:13 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
Likes: 1
From: NC,USA
Originally Posted by jetech
Vortex Generators are an "L" or "T" shaped piece of metal or plastic, they are about 1" long and 1/4" tall. The front vertical edge is rounded over and the aft edge is left square.
There is a specific layout for them and I have it somewhere, so if you are interested I will try to find it.
You can do a web search for Vortex Generators to get a better idea of what they look like.
I made some for my plane by bending thin aluminum strips into an "L" shape and then cut them to length and rounded the front edge.
Double sided tape can be used to hold them in place for testing.
Go to the link I posted above, then go to Gallery and then to the Cessna A185F picture. The green stripe is a layout guide so you can get an idea how the leading edges are closer together than the trailing edges. The generators that this company sells look to be about 3/8" tall. Check out some of the other pictures.
There is a specific layout for them and I have it somewhere, so if you are interested I will try to find it.
You can do a web search for Vortex Generators to get a better idea of what they look like.
I made some for my plane by bending thin aluminum strips into an "L" shape and then cut them to length and rounded the front edge.
Double sided tape can be used to hold them in place for testing.
Go to the link I posted above, then go to Gallery and then to the Cessna A185F picture. The green stripe is a layout guide so you can get an idea how the leading edges are closer together than the trailing edges. The generators that this company sells look to be about 3/8" tall. Check out some of the other pictures.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Originally Posted by Guru_4_hire
So I have been able to find out what the coefficent of drag is. But I havent been able to find out what the frontal area is.
Does anyone know what the frontal area of a C3 specifically a 73 is?
The coefficent of drag is .40
Does anyone know what the frontal area of a C3 specifically a 73 is?
The coefficent of drag is .40
I posted this a while back and may be repeating but not about to scan three pages of babble.
Early C3 cd (pre 78) = 0.50
Late model C3 (1978+) = 0.43
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
Sorry to bring an old thread up, but I was thinking about something. Would removing the rear window and cracking the windows down a bit help the coefficeint of drag for our cars? Wouldnt it eliminate that large area of stangnant air causing less drag and cleaner air flow?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
Sorry to bring an old thread up, but I was thinking about something. Would removing the rear window and cracking the windows down a bit help the coefficeint of drag for our cars? Wouldnt it eliminate that large area of stangnant air causing less drag and cleaner air flow?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
I posted this a while back and may be repeating but not about to scan three pages of babble.
Early C3 cd (pre 78) = 0.50
Late model C3 (1978+) = 0.43
