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Aerodynamics article in Circle Track magazine


jhaag

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The October, 2001 issue has an article titled Aero 101 by Larry McReynolds (of NASCAR fame) that might be interesting to those who liked the Aerodynamics thread on this forum several months ago. As I dreaded thinking about how much typing would be involved, however, to convey some ideas from the magazine, I had a wild idea: why not try a Google search using "Larry McReynolds Aero 101" as the key words? Voila! Go to the web site www.nascar.com/2001/TECH/08/02/circletrack/ to see virtually the same article. NACA ducts were talked about on the earlier Hybrid Z thread and as I recall, at least one person here wondered whether a NACA duct, turned 180 degrees would suck air out. He says YES and calls them "suca ducts" which made me smile. He doesn't quote statistics or wind tunnel evidence, which in a perfect world, I'd like to see, but then Larry was pretty successful in his day. Hope you like the article.

John

 

nullthe web page (http://www.nascar.com/2001/TECH/08/02/circletrack/ )Aero 101

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I was one of those wondering about backwards NACA ducts for removing hot air from under the hood (too bad, I just got the car back from the paint shop last night icon_wink.gif ).

 

To my simple, untrained aero mind, it only makes sense that they'd extract air if turned around. But hey, there's lots about aero that is very counter-intuitive, except for a handful of very experienced, smart aero people.

 

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[ August 23, 2001: Message edited by: pparaska ]

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Guest Anonymous

I too am kicking around ideas for backward ducts in my hood. Can't seem to settle on a particular design.

Yeah, too bad we can't get some free advice from Eghbal Hamidy, aerodynamicist for Formula 1 teams. He has designed cars for Williams, Stewart, Arrows, Jaguar, and currantly the Jordan team. However, since Ferrari decided that they couldn't afford his salary, I kinda doubt that Hybrid Z has anything to entice him with. icon_wink.gif

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"maybe the air came out because it was pressurized in the confined space vented by the duct?"

 

I've bought into that concept much stronger than the 'vaccuum' concept from external suction. Engine bay has higher pressure than above the hood. We know that, so it seems natural for it to exit ANY available opening to the lower pressure side. AIR my dad was popping his inspection lids on occasion...he just got a set of louvred ones back from MSA he's going to try. (very slow MSA service BTW, he got his supplied 'cores' back louvred so they had not stock on hand!)

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Guest Anonymous

I failed to mention earlier that I do have the louvered inspection lids. However after a casual drive I noticed that the underhood temps are still very high, the hood being to hot to rest your hand on.

Consequently I cut two vents in the hood and made an aluminum grill that runs front to rear in the vents. It looks very good IMO, however on a very hot day here in Sacramento I went for a drive in traffic with the new vents and louvered lids and the temp gauge went to 250*!

 

Back to the drawing board for me. After looking at the vents I cut head on, I decided that air was probably being forced into the vents (due to the slope of the hood) with more pressure than the underhood air and therefore not letting the hot air escape. Thus the need for a rear facing "suca" duct design. Also seriously contemplating a GT 40 style hood that removes the hot radiator air with a reverse scoop just behind the radiator. Not sure if there will be adequate space to do this though.

 

If I find a definite solution I will post. Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

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Consider a cowl hood for heat extraction. The SubtleZ hood I've got is a very mild scoop but I can see the heat flowing out of it pretty readily. It also has the later Z style vents on the sideswhich can't hurt. odn't think I'll have much problem with underhood heat with this puppy...

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Who am I to argue with Larry McReynolds...

 

I searched the NASA Technical Reports Server using the terms: "extraction", "extract", "exhaust", and "vent" in conjunction with "submerged duct" (the proper term for a NACA duct) and didn't find any documents. It appears that no one at NASA, NACA, Langley, Ames, Dryden, etc. felt a need to research how a submerged duct works as an extractor. That doesn't mean it doesn't work and I'm not saying that Larry didn't get air out using a reversed duct, but maybe the air came out because it was pressurized in the confined space vented by the duct?

 

Here are probably the most relevant research papers on the design of submerged ducts:

 

An Experimental Investigation of NACA Submerged-Duct Entrances

Charles W. Frick Wallace F. Davis Lauros M. Randall Emmet A. Mossman

NACA ACR-5I20

November, 1945 http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1945/naca-acr-5i20/

 

An experimental investigation of the design variables for NACA

Emmet A. Mossman Lauros M. Randall

NACA RM-A7I30

January, 1948 http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1948/naca-rm-a7i30/

 

An experimental investigation at large scale of an NACA submerged intake and deflector installation on the rearward portion of a fuselage

Holzhauser, Curt A

NACA RM-A50F13

August 30, 1950 http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1950/naca-rm-a50f13/

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Mike kZ, since I just had the car painted, All my underhood cooling options will be just that - under hood first, so as to save the bodywork. Henry's idea of fans in the inner fender is good, but I may put a fan or two in the firewall into the cowl area instead. Stealthy and effective unless you're at speed. Plus I figure heat wants to go UP.

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Guest Anonymous

Has anyone seen or heard about the GT 300,

GT 500 racing category's in Japan, they use some of the most advanced aerodynamics I've ever seen in a racing class, with massive rear spoilers and full belly pans, and more carbon fiber than you could poke a stick at, might be worth searching,

Also i've seen some interesting concepts on some full bodied salt flat racers, that might be worth looking into.

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Guest Anonymous

I found a couple of pics of an GT500 NSX, i have'nt found any of the bellypans yet, hope this works mo_set1.html

You can just see underneath the rear in this one. m08_36m.jpg

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