Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
(OP)
Could someone explain how coefficient of drag and frontal area effect how much power is required to move a vehicle at a specific speed?
Where would I find frontal area and Coefficient of drag values for current vehicles especially larger cars and SUV’s?
Where would I find frontal area and Coefficient of drag values for current vehicles especially larger cars and SUV’s?
Ed Danzer
www.danzcoinc.com
www.dehyds.com





RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Drag (Force)=1/2*Cd*rho*Area*velocity^2
Magazines like Car and Driver or Road and Track usually have Cd values for new vehicles.
-Reidh
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
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RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
The power required, however, is proportional to the velocity cubed.
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Some links http://www.landracing.com/forum/
http
Cheers
I don't know anything but the people that do.
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
...or as an analogy: a FULL parachute descends SLOWLY, but the same parachute when STREAMING falls like the proverbial rock.
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Reidh
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
For any given shape and pitch angle there is an optimum ride height. Too low and you get downforce, too high and you get lift. You want zero vertical force, for minimum drag.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Regards
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Frontal area and Coefficient of drag questions
Is the effect of air churning from the tire a bigger influence than the ride hight effect? Expanding on this then - other than maybe the desire to use air flow through the wheel for brake cooling - if the wheel well was 'sealed' off from the underside of the shape and the underside leading area of the tire zone flared (to prevent or minimize the rotating surface exposure to the incoming air) not that this would be practical then you still need to deal with the ground effect and incompressibility.
Steve