|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Just Win Baby!: One form of cheating is encouraged in CO2 racing — cheating the wind! More Tips |
|
 |
|
 |
This is best done with a wind tunnel designed for testing scale models, such as Pitsco’s AirTech X-Stream Wind Tunnel. This tunnel measures the frontal drag force on your car.
Inside the test chamber of the wind tunnel, the car is held stationary in an air stream. The force of air “pushing” the car rearward is measured, yielding an indication of the car’s aerodynamic efficiency. Lower frontal drag numbers (measured in grams) indicate a higher efficiency of the car’s shape.
By slowing the airspeed in the tunnel and introducing a fog vapor into the air stream, you can visually observe the airflow around your car. Laminar flow, a smooth, “layered” flow, is desirable. Turbulence in the airflow is indicated by eddies, swirling currents of air, around the car body. Eddies are clearly visible in the wind tunnel.
The presence of eddies indicates features of your car body are causing aerodynamic drag. Streamlining such features can improve the efficiency of the car's shape and help it “cheat the wind” as it moves down the track. The bottom line: more speed!
|
|
<< Back | Construction >>
|
|
|
