General Car Related Discussion. To discuss anything that is related to cars and automotive technology that doesnt naturally fit into another forum catagory.

Forces on bumpers, spoilers, mirrors, etc at high speed

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 20, 2004 | 08:36 PM
  #1  
Stavros's Avatar
Stavros
Thread Starter
DEYTUKURJERBS
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 29,378
Likes: 1
From: North Korea
Default Forces on bumpers, spoilers, mirrors, etc at high speed

Im no aerodynamics expert so humour me, lol...

Just wondering (as been out messing with fitting new mirrors, spoiler, etc) why mirrors on cars etc dont fold themselfs back at high speed, ie the wind pushes them back.

I mean, its not hard to do it with bare hands, idve thought the wind would do it just as much, but it dont.

Same as front bumpers, on 3dr's, R32s, etc, the bumpers are pretty flexible, can bend the lower centre section with ease with bare hands, why dont the wind do the same or more when at BIG speeds?

At first i had visions of my fancy mirrors n spoiler getting torn off the car at 180+mph, lol, but if it cant fold back foldable mirrors then it sure wont do that...

But why? Put you hand out the window at big speed n it nearly takes ya fookin arm off!
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2004 | 08:38 PM
  #2  
ballin's Avatar
ballin
10K+ Poster!!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,863
Likes: 12
From: .
Default

thats why they are designed to be aerodynamic!!!

the whole car is designed to flow air where the designer wants it to go.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2004 | 08:40 PM
  #3  
cossie1's Avatar
cossie1
PassionFord Post Whore!!
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,588
Likes: 0
From: Gloucestershire
Default

just use some 6ft long screws on the spolier steve and your be ok

If it does come off tho, make sure im not behind you as it will do some serious damage
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2004 | 08:43 PM
  #4  
RSrussell's Avatar
RSrussell
PassionFord Post Whore!!
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,598
Likes: 0
From: Essex innit bruv
Default

Originally Posted by ballin
thats why they are designed to be aerodynamic!!!

the whole car is designed to flow air where the designer wants it to go.
thats what i thought BUT how come the windscreen wiper starts moving to the middle of the screen when going over 130mph in my old pug? Surely that doesn't have more drag than a wing mirror
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2004 | 08:43 PM
  #5  
Stavros's Avatar
Stavros
Thread Starter
DEYTUKURJERBS
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 29,378
Likes: 1
From: North Korea
Default

Most mirrors arnt really aerodynamic tho (Tho my new ones are)

Same as 3dr bumpers, slab front and quite flexible, yes the air goes thru the holes and around it, but its soft enough idve thought itd get pushed in, same with mirrors, which are often jus slabs n only held in place by spring loaded clips.

Obv they do stay in place, but i jus wana understand why (in a semi-technical way), lol
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rsguy
General Car Related Discussion.
44
Sep 29, 2015 03:29 PM
IainRS1700T
Cars for Sale
9
Sep 25, 2015 06:44 AM
coscor86
Restorations, Rebuilds & Projects.
0
Sep 20, 2015 01:21 PM




All times are GMT. The time now is 12:52 PM.