| |
Lift
and Drag
Abstract
Aerodynamics
strongly influences the performance of HPVs and
under transverse wind conditions may render them unstable. For hydrofoils,
the lift and drag associated with the foil has associated lift and drag, but
in addition the aerodynamics of the superstructure is also critical. This study
will measure the lift and drag performance of wing or wheels using a wind
tunnel with a balance capable of measuring the forces on these structures as
a function of their orientation with respect to the flow and the flow speed.
The airfoil section is that for an aircraft wing, but a hydrofoil will exhibit
similar behavior at the same Reynolds number. Two bike wheels are available,
one a conventional spoke wheel and the other a carbon-fiber epoxy composite
wheel. Both have the same tires. The tunnel will be used to measure their
lift and drag as a function of tunnel wind speed, orientation with respect to
the wind velocity vector, and their rotational velocity. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
