Aerodynamics

Vlado

[My Pimp Mobile] 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

Airplane modelling

http://www.airplane-collectible-best-net-resource.com/create-flight-simulation-model.html

A Link for freeware program (115 MB size) called Alice, which creates airplane models and simulates flights. Also contains guide to create a airplane in 1 hour.

• Also the website from the link, contains some guides into modeling a real life paper plane; in terms of how to make it fly like a real one(folding techniques and similar).

• http://www.alice.org/index.php?page=what_is_alice/what_is_alice

A link that contains further info about Alice - also contains a Video which gives closer look at the software. From first sentence: " Alice is an innovative 3D programming environment that makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web. Alice is a freely available teaching tool designed to be a student's first exposure to object-oriented programming. " And so on..

• • --Yrosic08 06:45, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

I explored Alice and made the simulation. Possible variations.

http://www.airplane-collectible-best-net-resource.com/free-flight-simulator.html

Contains simulator links ; explored Google Earth one - still thinking about the whole purpose - but I guess its upcoming. Pretty fine and detailed one. Ready to present.

• • http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html A space flight simulator;could be of some help. Didn't explore it yet.

Rocket Modeling

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/rocket/rktsim.html

• Rocket Modeler II

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/rocket/ienzl.html

• Rocket Thrust Simulator

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/rocket/atmosi.html

• Atmospheric Effects Simulator

The 3 basic simulators of the rocket flight - a rocket model. Besides computer simulation, there could be guides followed up to manufacture a real life water rocket (e.g.) which could fly around; possible lab.

Rocket Activities http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/rocket/TRCRocket/RocketActivitiesHome2.html

Some of the classroom rocket activities are described on that site;following the links posted there could lead to further guides. It includes the above mentioned Water Rocket, comparing real rockets with the ones we create, and similar experiments.

• Constructing launcher for water rocket:

http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/BottleRocket/launchpad.htm --Yrosic08 05:37, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

3D Water Rocket Simulator http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/rocket/BottleRocket/Install_sim.htm

Free download - possibly very useful(will look into it). - *Update on 3D simulator: Still under development - the link above is for Java 2 and Java 3D download. Could be available at the time we need it, so I will keep the link around.

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/rocket/BottleRocket/educator.htm

• Educator section - worth reading.

- I have downloaded this really interesting water rocket simulator - which on first sight gives allot of probably useful information. * http://www.seeds2lrn.com/rocketSoftware.html Ready to present it. --Yrosic08 05:39, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

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.
• Narrow it down to a few possibilities to go forward with.

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• Set up Alice and try the software. Also try making the paper airplane, and bring both of those in to show us.
• Also keep looking forward into rockets. The water-based one is probably our best bet and/or the other one without solid fuel.