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Subject:Re: aerodynamics, was: 101 MPH Vanagon!
From:jimt
Date:Mon, 18 Oct 2004 13:09:09 -0600

On 10/18/04 9:08 AM, "Bruce Nadig" <motorbruce@hotmail.com> wrote:

> 
> O.K., I've seen all sorts of formulas and explanations for aerodynamics and
> drag. What I haven't seen is actual numbers for a Vanagon. Does anyone know
> the actual coefficient of drag for a Vanagon? Does anyone know what frontal
> area of a Vanagon is? Without this  information, all the formulas in the
> world are pretty useless for us.
> 
> Inquiring minds want to know.
> 
> Cheers,
> Bruce
> motorbruce
> motorbruce@hotmail.com
> 
> 
Not for a vanagon but I got some camparison numbers and plugged them in
Note that the 94 mv is more streamlined than a vanagon but when I looked up
most vans and trucks that had about the same profile as the vanagon
including the euro mv I noted that almost all had the same 0.45 value.

Avg air density   coef   area   speed   drag   vehicle

0.00255754    0.35    1.96    20    0.7    94 jetta
0.00255754    0.45    2.97    20    1.37    94 MV
                   
0.00255754    0.35    1.96    40    2.81    94 jetta
0.00255754    0.45    2.97    40    5.47    94 MV

0.00255754    0.35    1.96    80    11.23    94 jetta
0.00255754    0.45    2.97    80    21.88    94 MV

Note how the drag value climbs rapidly with increases in speed from 20 to
80. A double speed is a 4x drag.

Note that the 94 mv is more streamlined than a vanagon
When I looked up most vans and trucks that had about the same profile as the
vanagon including the euro mv I noted that almost all had the same 0.45
value.

A table with values can be found at.

http://www.teknett.com/pwp/drmayf/tbls.htm

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jimt
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