Drag Numbers

[masraum]

Riblets

Aren't those what you get at Chili's during happy hour, or is that the new McDonalds kiddies meal thing??

OK, so more seriously, if we went at our cars with a belt sander with 40 grit sandpaper and only oriented from front to back we would increase our aerodynamic efficiency? Cool

If we oriented across the car would we reduce the effects of crosswinds?

[Bill Verburg]

No, they are similar to what I have on my shirt after eating at Chili's

Also somewhat unrelated they were used on the hulls of America's Cup boats to help reduce hydodynamic resistance

[Superman]

Isn't that some sort of candy for Atkins dieters?

[Randy Webb]

re: riblets & dimples
Uh oh.... You actually might improve aero effects by putting tiny strakes (riblets) on the side of the car ... it could reduce eddy formation and also prevent migration of air vertically along the side of the car. Similar devices are used on aricraft wings to reduce formation of tip votrices.

If you try this on your car, just remember that....

'ruffles have ridges'

[Bill Verburg]

But then it would look klike a Pontiac

by the way just for you Randy, the latest in GM braking
7kg lighter than previously

[Early_S_Man]

Supe,

Your comment about mass gains ... neglected to take account the fact that the phenomenon doesn't occur until velocities approach c, say around 95% of the speed of light. Not very likely to be encountered ... even by a Ruf on the Autobahn!