Aerodynamics

Vlado

Aerodynamics of an object:in try of reducing air drag with simulating different versions and simulations of a virtual object in air tunnel; improving it's aerodynamics - in purpose of enabling faster traveling but again trying to keep it safe. Air tunnel simulation basically - how would an object react depending on the material used and its shape/structure? How much does air affect its possible movement? And the direction of the 'blowing' and the movement of the object affects the simulation result. The idea started watching F1 'cars' - which try to use lighter materials so the weight doesn't affect speed, but also to improve very crucial factor - the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Must point out that this model would be based on the physics principles-so its that is the science side of it.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerodynamics - Wikipedia tells it all about the aerodynamics, one should know. Some ideas about modeling could be obtained.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_tunnel - At the lower part of the site - it talks about visualizing the results and the whole simulation of the wind tunnel. Interesting.
• http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?t=5481 - This link provides multiple links (e.g. http://www.ansys.com/products/cfx.asp Ansys - fluid dynamics) of the software which might be used for modeling such situations described. -It is not freeware, but could be perhaps achieved for education purposes.
• I found another link - which contains some free and simple simulators of some stuff related to airplane modeling - its from NASA and it contains some guides also.

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/freesoftware_page.htm

• I have downloaded 3 software's out of the all offered - they're the simulators of different flying situations; from the engine throttle to the air flow around the wing. Might be helpful. Those are:

**EngineSim **EngineSimr **FoilSim

When the files are downloaded; after unpacking them, they contain Java based simulations, which we open in our browser.

** "Make your own Wind Tunnel" I went through interesting links - depending on what we want to achieve this might help. http://sln.fi.edu/flights/first/makesimple/index.html

Comments

Pros:

• Interesting and hits physics, area we want to include
  • Computational fluid dynamics
• Very clearly modeling - trying to see how something will behave on a track or something

Cons:

• Might be difficult to simulate a wind tunnel

Comments:

• Potentially model paper airplanes
  • Can build anything they want, very hands on engineering
• Potentially build car models (little cars)
• Real life application: Pringles chips

To Do

• Check out Nasa's Rocket Modeler. They could simulate the rocket in software and then try to replicate the results outside with a real rocket.
• Make sure there's something we can bring it back to the real world, too, with whatever direction we end up going with this.
• Look at what you can find for a model airplane simulation: slightly easier if we're just using paper airplanes.