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n/a

26 Posts

Posted - 01/16/2010 :  04:26:22  Show Profile
Vortex generators are as old as the hills, but their use has been slow to take hold. Generally they were used as a sticking plaster to “fix” aerodynamic problems. More recently they have gained favour as drag reducers from the design phase, and created an extensive after market industry.
They feature as small vertical fins of wing surfaces, and airtabs on trucks, as well as dimples on golf balls and many other things.

The question is simple; has any one tried them on stream lining HPV?

Clearly a simple test would cost very little; with a series of tabs stuck on to just one side, which should induce a drag difference, and so turn the craft to the high drag side.
Most hardware stores stock right angle extruded plastic sections of roughly the correct size, which could be stuck down temporally with double sided tape.
Just a thought, but i’d be interested to hear of any one experiences.

n/a

10 Posts

Posted - 06/19/2011 :  09:43:22  Show Profile
Rose-Hulman's entry to ASME HPVC2010 had vortex generators. You can find their technical report on their website.

The UofT team, which i was the captain of that year, did not use them. Vortex generators only make sense if one has a bigger vortex to break down. For streamlined vehicles, one should try to minimize any vortex from being generated in the first place. Given that there is no lift to be achieved, this is possible.

Rose-Hulman's 2011 entry had no vortex generators.

Victor
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