R-pod Owners Forum : r-pod Airflow http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Wish List : r-pod Airflow Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:16:42 +0000 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:38:37 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=704 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ r-pod Airflow : Well, in my past life (work) I... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6464#6464 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 3:38pm

Well, in my past life (work) I used a lot of computer programs in various disciplines and the old saying of garbage in garbage out is very true.  I'm definitely not saying the Flow Illustrator program is garbage because it is not.  I was quite impressed with the out put from it.  I'm only saying it would be difficult to obtain any quantitative information not knowing the total input information and the conditions under which the model is subjected.  i too am impressed with the improvement in data processing that has occurred since I first processed "data" by hand and with a hand held calculator which believe it or not was not allowed in any of my college classrooms. Ah, the "good ol' days".  Yeah right Censored]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:38:37 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6464#6464 r-pod Airflow : I also did a series of Flow Illustrator... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6463#6463 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 3:24pm

I also did a series of Flow Illustrator runs for a combo-shaped trailer with a 'rectangular' front and a R-Pod rear end using both my Jeep Liberty silhouette and the  Ford Pickup...the weird shape didn't really change anything.  I am a hydrodynamist by profession and Flow Illustrator doesn't do very
badly compared with some of my very expensive software.  I am always amazed with some of the 'free' software that is available on the Internet versus some of the 'professional' software that costs
me up into five figures!

As you stated...the real world is the final word.  I also use ScanGauge II and wouldn't travel without it.  It uses  the electronic sensors all new vehicles have.  It has more than paid for itself by giving me the fault codes so I know what is wrong with my vehicle before I bring it in to a mechanic. I watch my miles per gallon, and adjust my speed accordingly. The SGII can also be moved from one vehicle to another by simply plugging it into a under dash socket.
]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:24:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6463#6463 r-pod Airflow : Yeah, I suppose there was some... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6462#6462 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 3:17pm

Yeah, I suppose there was some value there.]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:17:59 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6462#6462 r-pod Airflow : But they did make a really nice... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6459#6459 Author: techntrek
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 3:04pm

But they did make a really nice spot to put the company logo.  Wink]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:04:20 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6459#6459 r-pod Airflow : Butterfly_LeeThe following is... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6435#6435 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 10:46am

Butterfly_Lee
The following is just my opinion.  The pictures and "airflow analysis" are a nice visualization of one set of conditions with the model presented and the boundrary conditions in the program.  The author of the program warns that the results are "not " a scientific result and should be considered a work of art and not a scientific result.  Now, that is not to say the results don't have worth , they do and can provide some 2 dimensional visualization of air flow across the various vehicles and r-pods.  I have enjoyed seeing the contributions and look forward to making my own when I get my Pod.  You should not put to much credence in the results you see as far as making a judgment of gas mileage etc. First of all I don't think the program allows input of vehicle speed etc to set the criteria under which the airflow takes place.  I have purchased a devise called a "scan gauge", which will give me instantaneous gas mileage, transmission temperature, alternator output, and several other readings and plan to use the hard data I get from the gauge readouts to improve my driving habits to improve gas mileage.  Maybe somewhere down the road, I may fool around with spoilers etc but for now I just plan on enjoying the R-Pod as much as I can when I receive it.   Bottom line is to go enjoy your r-pod and don't worry too much about the gas mileage.  Remember back a few years when all the big rigs had huge spoilers mounted on the tractors ?  How many do you see today ?  I don't think they helped as much as the people selling them said they did.
]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:46:44 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6435#6435 r-pod Airflow : Well I guess I'm all kinds... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6426#6426 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 9:26am

Well I guess I'm all kinds non efficient airflow.  Not only do I have a smaller truck, small cab, open bed and now I have a trike rack in truck bed to cause more problems.  

I'm going to take some good side and front pictures (for editing) on my next trip.  I'd really like to see a deflector on the cab, will i lose some of the turbulence in the truck bed?

Now the big question?  What does all this tell us?  What is the gain the MPG as we correct the airflow?  

In the Deflector thread, http://www.rpodnation.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=587&KW=deflector&title=deflect-or-not-to-deflect-is-the-question there didn't seem to be a big gain in MPG.  Just wondering?


LeeClap




]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:26:14 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6426#6426 r-pod Airflow : Ah, I missed that first time around.... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6425#6425 Author: techntrek
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 9:13am

Ah, I missed that first time around.]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:13:51 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6425#6425 r-pod Airflow : see Outbound's airflow run... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6422#6422 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 19 Oct 2009 at 8:02am

see Outbound's airflow run on first page
]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:02:58 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6422#6422 r-pod Airflow : Has anyone tried addinga deflector... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6413#6413 Author: techntrek
Subject: 704
Posted: 18 Oct 2009 at 10:25pm

Has anyone tried adding a deflector to the back of the 'pod?  I'm thinking at a 45 degree angle, mounted above the rear window.  That should even out the airflow back there. ]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:25:46 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6413#6413 r-pod Airflow : Here is a flow image of an 18ft... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6395#6395 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 18 Oct 2009 at 7:56pm

Here is a flow image of an 18ft rectangular travel trailer.  The flow is extremely smooth over the truck and trailer roof.  But there is a huge roller being dragged behind.  It would be nice to know the drag coefficient of an R-Pod versus a rectangular travel trailer.]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:56:19 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6395#6395 r-pod Airflow : A comment was made about airflow... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6391#6391 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 18 Oct 2009 at 6:22pm

A comment was made about airflow over a pickup truck... I used a 2010 Ford Extended Cab with
a length of about 221 inches.
The first image is an 'open box'...Flow Illustrator does a two-dimensional analysis, so the PU box
looks like an open box with a tailgate on the end: suprisingly the flow was quite smooth over the R-Pod...the open box not doing much to the flow.  There were large amounts of pulsing behind the R-Pod and upward from the pavement behind the rear (suggestion...cover the box!)
The second image is a 'closed box'...a covered box...there were some lower frequency pulsing
at the top rear of R-pod and some rear pavement upward pulses
The third image is with a truck 'topper' covering the box...there was also some pulsing at the top rear of the R-Pod the rear upward pulses were more gentle
Putting a 20 inch wind deflector at the back of the pickup cab suprisingly caused both pulsing at the top rear and lower rear of the R-Pod...not very efficient flow
Moving the wind deflector to the rear of the topper really smoothed the flow...no upper pulsing, no longer period pulsing, with a nearly constant low pressure zone at the lower rear (probably the
most efficient flow of any of the cases!)

]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:22:39 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6391#6391 r-pod Airflow : Wow! That's really amazing!I've... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6330#6330 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 17 Oct 2009 at 10:59am

Wow! That's really amazing!

I've noticed that when driving on wet pavement for the first time, I almost thought the brakes might be on as the spray that was burbling off the back of the trailer was so fine it looked like smoke.

I'll have to try this program with the Tiguan when I have a minute.

I can see by the illustrations that it is definitely an advantage to be pulling the trailer with an SUV as it 'fills' the gap between the car and the trailer more aerodynamically. I would imagine this would also apply to a 1/2 ton pulling the trailer with a cap on it as opposed to one without.
with
It would sure be interesting to see what a standard tandem box shaped trailer would look like using this program.

Thanks for the quick lesson in aerodynamics!

Doug Big smile, Linda Evil Smile, Scruffy Star, Bert Clap and Ernie Smile
]]> Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:59:36 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6330#6330 r-pod Airflow : Note how many pressure pulses... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6316#6316 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 16 Oct 2009 at 9:22pm

Note how many pressure pulses are produced by simply adding the A/C to the roof.  There is a build up not only much higher at the upper rear...but also a pressure field out in front of the R-Pod.
I think that the A/C on the RP 170+ units with its longer roof line and using a longer and higher
TV helps keep the flow much smoother (see Outbound's flow images at the beginning of this thread).
It appears that by moving the A/C to the roof of the RP-151, Forest River really decreased the
efficiency of the RP-151s.  I wonder how much less mpg I will be getting from the 2010 Pod versus
the older units?
]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:22:33 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6316#6316 r-pod Airflow : Flow...with and without the A/C...with... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6315#6315 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 16 Oct 2009 at 9:16pm

Flow...with and without the A/C...with the spoiler at the rear and a 30" spoiler at the rear]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:16:49 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6315#6315 r-pod Airflow : What a difference an air-conditioner... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6314#6314 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 16 Oct 2009 at 9:14pm

What a difference an air-conditioner makes!
The previous Flow Illustrator runs I did were for an R-Pod 151 with the air conditioner positioned
in the forward cabinet...no real obstructions on the roof line.
My 2010 RP-151 has the A/C on the roof.  It is 10 inches high by 37 inches long and positioned 68 inches from the front of the unit.  It extends about 1/8 of the total height above the roof.
It is generally a rectangular box obstructing the air flow.
I included an 18 inch deflector mid-way back, and at the rear of my TV.  I also ran a rear deflector
of the largest size I could find in a catalog (30 inches).
Note that the air conditioner completely messes up the air flow over the R-Pod!  There are pressure waves both in front and behind the R-Pod. 
Flow Illustrator is a two-dimensional analyzer and does not take into consideration that the A/C does not extend all the way across the roof.  So the actual effect should be less spectacular
than what is shown. The other images will be on successive submissions.

]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:14:39 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6314#6314 r-pod Airflow : Originally posted by techntrekBy... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6294#6294 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 16 Oct 2009 at 3:41pm

Originally posted by techntrek

By looking at tsunami's images I just wondered - are you guys including the stuff on the top of the 'pod?  A/C, antenna, etc.?
 
Also I thought you were testing deflectors on the rear of the 'pod itself.

For my trials, I have the A/C on top of the r-pod.  I took out the antenna as it doesn't cover a significant width of the r-pod and thought that it would skew the results.
]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:41:42 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6294#6294 r-pod Airflow : Originally posted by Phil... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6293#6293 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 16 Oct 2009 at 3:40pm

Originally posted by Phil H

Would it be possible for you to try a deflector mounted near the rear of your Tribute's roof to see if that helped?

I'll give it a try this weekend, but I don't think it will help much; there doesn't seem to be much of an airsink between my Tribute and the r-pod.  But, we won't know for sure until we give it a try.

Originally posted by Phil H

Also I was wondering what speed the simulation was mimicking? Does it say?

Its an increasing velocity... the program is a bit esoteric and I'd have to figure out how to convert it to something useful.
 
Originally posted by Phil H

As an aside, I always wondered if the R-pod's teardrop shape wasn't more aerodynamically efficient if it was being towed backwards???

I'm thinking that its not teardrop-shaped enough and that less slope on the rear end would be better.  But, I'm a statistician, not an engineer, and have absolutely no background in this.  So, trial and error it is...
]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:40:07 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6293#6293 r-pod Airflow : By looking at tsunami's images... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6286#6286 Author: techntrek
Subject: 704
Posted: 16 Oct 2009 at 3:03pm

By looking at tsunami's images I just wondered - are you guys including the stuff on the top of the 'pod?  A/C, antenna, etc.?
 
Also I thought you were testing deflectors on the rear of the 'pod itself.
 
Again, sorry, I can't see the other images here at work and I keep forgetting to take a look at home.  So I'm only going on what I can see from tsunami's images.  (thanks for putting them up here so I can see them!)
]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:03:46 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6286#6286 r-pod Airflow : Fantastic information, Outbound! I... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6273#6273 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 16 Oct 2009 at 8:07am

Fantastic information, Outbound!
 
I had previously done a bit of research online with regard to a tow vehicle mounted roof deflector but what I had read online seemed to indicate that the deflector needed to be fairly close to the towed vehicle to be the most efficient. A tractor trailer roof mounted deflector would be only a few feet from its trailer while with the R-pod's sloping roof it would be 6-8 feet away. I was going to try mocking something up but feared what would happen if it let go from the tow vehicle roof rack and smacked into the front of the R-pod. Would it be possible for you to try a deflector mounted near the rear of your Tribute's roof to see if that helped?
 
Also I was wondering what speed the simulation was mimicking? Does it say?
 
As an aside, I always wondered if the R-pod's teardrop shape wasn't more aerodynamically efficient if it was being towed backwards???
]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:07:04 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6273#6273 r-pod Airflow : I used Flow Illustrator to check... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6253#6253 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 15 Oct 2009 at 9:01pm

I used Flow Illustrator to check the smoothness of flow over my Jeep Liberty and an R-Pod
151.
A few comments first on Flow Illustrator: The working image really needs to be in a 1:2 proportion to get a 'quick calculation'.  Also as stated the silhoutte image should be
in RGB color (tho' you are just using black for the vehicles and roadbase, and white for
the rest) and saved as a 24-bit bitmap (.bmp).  A very large number of users are running FI...there are literally hundreds of flow videos of vehicles now on Youtube.com
The size of the image is also important...too small and FI seems to choke, too large
and it takes so long to compute that the servers may time out!
I found that a silhoutte image of 1 1/2 inches tall by 3 inches long, at 300 to 600 dpi
worked very well.
I downloaded side views of a Jeep Liberty and a R-Pod RP-151 from the internet, and imported them into Photoshop Elements. I knew my Jeep was 14.5 ft long and the R-Pod was 16.2 ft.
I resized the R-Pod so that it was at the same scale as the Jeep. I photomerged the two images together...and added enough white space around them to make a 1:2 ratio image.
I then changed the colors to 2 colors, white & black.  But then carefully blackened out
some of the white in the Jeep and on the R-Pod side.  I then resized the finished image
to be 1.5 by 3 inches and saved it.
I also determined the scale of the image using the length of the Jeep to draw onto the
top of the Jeep a wind deflector.  I first chose a length of 18 inches (roof-top deflectors are typically in heights of 15, 24, and 30 inches) as a compromise height.
I drew four more images: a deflector at the front of the roof, one mid-way, and one at the rear...then after running FI...I added another image with a deflector about 30 inches high.

1) The top image is air flow over the Jeep and R-Pod without a spoiler.  Blue is ambient air pressure.  Green is a 'smoke tracer' and pink is lower than ambient pressure.
Note the 'waves' over the rear of the R-Pod...waves require energy to form...and this
energy comes from your tow vehicle's engine.  Also note the 'double wall' column forming behind the R-Pod.  You are towing a 'mini-vortex' down the road behind the R-Pod
2) Using an 18 inch spoiler on the front of the roof decreases the 'waves' but spreads the disturbed air about as high above the R-Pod as does no spoiler.  The windshield forces air up over the Jeep and a front spoiler just sits in that air movement but does smooth out
the air flow over the R-Pod somewhat.  The rear disturbance is shrunken somewhat
3) Putting the spoiler at mid-point on the roof makes a noticeable difference. The air layer
moving over the R-Pod is much thinner even tho there are some smaller waves.  The rear disturbance doesn't change much
4) A rear spoiler has about the same effect as a mid-mounted one
Notice also small pink blobs at the rear top of the R-Pods...these are small low pressure
parcels of air which form and burst like bubbles...again using up energy.
5) Suprisingly, using a 30 inch high spoiler on the rear doesn't change the flow over the R-Pod much differently than the shorter spoiler.  The rear disturbance also grew and collapsed as did the others...but there were noticeably less 'bubbles' forming and collapsing.

I have not yet run FI on an R-Pod 170+ (which has a much longer and more gentle rear roofline) to see the effects of deflectors.  I will submit the results if no one else does.

If you run your own Flow Illustrator movies you will see the rear disturbance grow and collapse repeatedly.  If you 'draft' behind a large 18-wheeler, it is this low pressure column that is literally pulling you forward toward its back.  If you are driving a smaller-lighter vehicle you may also have noticed a pulsing vibration in the air between you and the 18-wheeler.  This is the rear disturbance forming and collapsing.

I recommend you try using FI for your vehicle.  You may get much different results with
a different roof height and length of your TV.






]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:01:32 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6253#6253 r-pod Airflow : Thanks Outbound. This confirms... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6231#6231 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 15 Oct 2009 at 5:13pm

Thanks Outbound.  This confirms my experiences.  I can "feel" when someone is behind me, within this turbulent area - it causes me to slow down, as if I were gently on the brakes.  I'll pretend to be an armchair engineer and say that I think the spoiler is almost the right idea.  I'm inclined to think that an air deflector, which would be high on the Pod and direct air down the rear of the Pod might work better.  It could grab some of the "clean air" and direct it into the low pressure area at the rear of the pod.  It looks like the low volume of air from underneath the vehicles is trying to (inadequately) fill this area.  The faster we go, the more we are "sucked backwards" because of the low pressure.  The air flowing over the top of the Pod should be moving very quickly (like over the top of an airplane wing).  The Pod is "blunt" enough in the rear (unlike an airplane wing) that there is considerable turbulence.  It makes sence (to me) that the lower mounted spoilers would have no effect.  The higher mounted spoiler, it would seem, would push the turbulence back, but create an even bigger low pressure area.  An air deflector, forcing air into the low pressure area, might be the answer.  It will produce some drag, but, I'm thinking not near as much as the big low pressue area behind the Pod.  Is it possible to try something like this on the modeling software? ]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:13:02 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6231#6231 r-pod Airflow : We've been camping a lot... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6221#6221 Author: techntrek
Subject: 704
Posted: 15 Oct 2009 at 3:14pm

We've been camping a lot at Codorus State Park lately (SW corner of York County).  Been there the last 3 weekends, next one we're taking a break, then the next 2 weekends we'll be back again.  We wanted to get more camping in before the end of the season but our girls have practices and games every weekend right now.  Then I remembered that Codorus has a campground and its 5 minutes from where they practice.  Solved that problem!]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:14:59 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6221#6221 r-pod Airflow : techntrek I'll wave at you... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6215#6215 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 15 Oct 2009 at 1:22pm

techntrek  I'll wave at you the entire trip I'll be so glad to get the 177.  I'll be going up I 81 near Harrisburg so you will have to get your binoculars out to see us. Emoticons  I plan to thumb my nose at the State legislators as I go by too.

From what I'm seeing there are enough folks in and around PA to have a R-Pod Jamboree sometime in the spring.  Lots of good camp spots in PA.  We have several close to us here in the North Central  part of PA.
]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:22:07 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6215#6215 r-pod Airflow : Sandpiper, if you'll be driving... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6207#6207 Author: techntrek
Subject: 704
Posted: 15 Oct 2009 at 12:28pm

Sandpiper, if you'll be driving near Shrewsbury, PA, wave as you go by.  We're about 10 minutes south.
 
Outbound - doh!  Thanks for the still pics but most image hosting sites are blocked @ work, too.  Since I have a high speed connection via my phone I've been considering buying a cheap laptop to leave at work.  Others here have done the same.
]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:28:31 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6207#6207 r-pod Airflow : I went back to the web site and... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6179#6179 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 14 Oct 2009 at 11:39pm

I went back to the web site and reread the instructions. Duh !!  Cry   Found the instructions to produce the bit map and there in lies the problem.  I don't have my 177 yet so can't photograph the combo to produce the bit map.  Angry  I'll postpone the project until I get back from picking up the r pod.  I'll get some good photos while we camp our way through OH, TN, VA, WV, MD and PA.
Thanks for your response and I'll be back to pick your brains at a later date.Big smile]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:39:28 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6179#6179 r-pod Airflow : Sandpiper, to create the silhouette,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6173#6173 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 14 Oct 2009 at 9:45pm

Sandpiper, to create the silhouette, I took a picture of my Tribute & r-pod hitched together and then loaded it into photo editing software.  I used paint.NET because its relatively simple, but PhotoShop or GIMP would be the most robust choices (paint.NET and GIMP are both GPL software).  I then erased the background (white) and coloured-in the foreground (black); I also drew in a "road" at the bottom of the image.  In total, it took about 10 minutes to prepare the image.  I then saved it as a 24-bit bitmap file.

The "more info" page on Flow Illustrator goes into some depth about how to prepare the bitmap file and provides more information about the available parameters.  When you're ready to run the simulation, go to Flow Illustrator's "movie maker" page, select bitmap, upload your silhouette, change the parameters as necessary, click on submit and then click on "get the movie" and wait for it to process.
]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:45:06 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6173#6173 r-pod Airflow : OutboundYou have piqued my interest... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6164#6164 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 14 Oct 2009 at 7:48pm

Outbound
You have piqued my interest now so I would like to have more info on how you did what you did.  It's been many years since I've played with finite element analysis programs but this seems much simpler.  Questions
1.) how did you develop the outline of your vehicles. I want to try this with my pickup.
2.) I looked at the web site and failed to find any instructions for submitting a shape, nor establishing things like boundary conditions , air velocity, shape size, re numbers  etc.
Can you help me out ?
]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:48:50 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6164#6164 r-pod Airflow : This time, I tried to move the... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6162#6162 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 14 Oct 2009 at 7:29pm

This time, I tried to move the spoiler around.

Spoiler in a low position, just over the spare.  This really had no effect whatsoever.

[TUBE]yRFb72H_onA[/TUBE]

(Still image for the YouTube impared)





Spoiler in a mid-position - just above the rear window.  It does move the turbulence back a few feet, but I have no idea if this is a good thing.

[TUBE]3_qVNtlB1DE[/TUBE]

(Still image for the YouTube impared)


]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:29:30 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6162#6162 r-pod Airflow : Unfortunately the videos are blocked... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6099#6099 Author: techntrek
Subject: 704
Posted: 14 Oct 2009 at 11:05am

Unfortunately the videos are blocked here at work - how did the airflow look with the spoiler?  Did you try different size spoilers, and at different heights?
 
Dang good idea.  Would change "the look", but practicality has to come first IMO.
]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:05:11 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6099#6099 r-pod Airflow : I cleaned-up the image a little... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6071#6071 Author: Guests
Subject: 704
Posted: 14 Oct 2009 at 6:25am

I cleaned-up the image a little bit.  Here's the improved version:

[TUBE]g8rBDQFnP0s[/TUBE]


Proving my lack of engineering skills, I added a spoiler about 6' up on the rear of the pod:

[TUBE]2VrL_bpq63M[/TUBE]


]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:25:38 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=704&PID=6071#6071