Accession Number:

ADA151842

Title:

Design of Apparatus for the Determination of Aerodynamic Drag Coefficients of Automobiles.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Gritte,B. R.

Report Date:

1984-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

80.0

Abstract:

There are three major components of the total resistance to motion of road vehicles aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance in the form of tire friction on road surfaces and mechanical resistance in the form of bearing friction. Apparatus constructed at the naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, employs the measurement of total drag aerodynamic drag rolling resistance drag mechanical drag by means of coastdown testing and the measurement of rolling resistance and mechanical drag in an aerodynamic shielding trailer to determine the aerodynamic drag. Data acquisition and reduction is carried out with a portable dedicated minicomputer system. The apparatus is designed to yield drag coefficients with an estimated uncertainty of about one percent. Originator-supplied Keywords include Rolling Resistance, Aerodynamic Drag, Drag Coefficient, and Coastdown Test. Thesis.

Descriptors:

• *ROLL
• *RESISTANCE
• *COEFFICIENTS
• *AERODYNAMIC DRAG
• *DRAG
• *AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
• MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
• THESES
• AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS
• TIRES
• FRICTION
• MINICOMPUTERS

Subject Categories:

• Surface Transportation and Equipment
• Fluid Mechanics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE