Citation

Alam F, Silva P, Zimmer G. Procedia Eng. 2012; 34: 9-14.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.proeng.2012.04.003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The key areas with interest of Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs) are the significance of aerodynamic design and ways to improve overall aerodynamics. Wind tunnel testing was undertaken at the RMIT wind tunnel with a selection of both faired and unfaired vehicles. Within these tests and vehicles different components were also analysed and tested. The wind tunnel testing was used to identify key characteristics of these HPVs, and, by identifying the different results obtained it was possible to understand more about the aerodynamics of HPV. Drag force values were obtained during wind tunnel testing, these drag values were compiled and compared. A key result was the importance of fairings, where travel could require significantly less effort as the faired vehicle tested provided only a quarter of the aerodynamic hindrance of any of the unfaired vehicles. Another significant finding was the effect of vehicle add-ons which showed how some apparently small components could have a relatively large negative impact on drag.