Didn't someone on the list have access to vacum molding equiptment? They could just make us a batch of flat panels with dimples that we can cut to fit for the top, bottom, and sides of our vans! :<)

Mark in AK  Too much time on my hands today, and a dead van in the driveway

----- Original Message -----
From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Date: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 8:53 am
Subject: Re: aerodynamics,  was: 101 MPH Vanagon!

> In the US recently, one high end Japanese manufacturer  is running
> a TV
> ad in which they show some of the techniques they have developed to
> reduce noise. the roll over the (vehicle using virtual rotisserie) and
> all the
> flat floor surfaces have been embossed maybe 7 to 10 mm deep with a
> bumpy pattern. This would certainly make the panel more rigid and also
> less likely to reflect sound waves, but rather disperse them. Pretty
> much like your underwater marine organisms! I think it creates a
> boundary area of slower moving fluid that is also more plastic and
> therefore slipperier.
> Belly pans anyone? certainly could easily retro fit pans to non-
> syncrosin some areas.
> Al Brase
>
> Andrew Grebneff wrote:
>
> >
> > Often a ROUGH surface aids laminar flow. This is a tactic used by
> > marine organisms to good effect.
> >
> > Glue little warts all over your van?
> >
>