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Re: Center of pressure?

To: Keith Turk <kturk@adelphia.net>
Subject: Re: Center of pressure?
From: "Thomas E. Bryant" <saltracer@awwwsome.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 10:21:30 -0700
Keith,

Much too deep for me, I am just a simple guy...I hope to also be 
measuring downforce/lift at each end of the car this year. That is, if I 
ever get it back together again. I have a habit of losing parts, so who 
knows?

Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/CC

Keith Turk wrote:
> Tom your answer is as good as any so far....  Don't know how accurate it
> is... but your dealing with real effects of making a change and comparing it
> to a known condition...  bottom line is that your experience has given you
> the ability to control the handling effects of the car....   what we call
> that has little merit... the outcome obviously is exceptional.
> 
> Here are my thoughts on doing this theoretically...  My car has the ability
> to measure the actual downforce in pounds... can't do much with the side
> loading of the car but I can tell if the car is creating more or less
> downforce then before, and on which wheel  (independantly) that happens.
> Since the downforce numbers increase with speed we can start to draw a graph
> of what happens as it increases in speed.... extrapolating out for increases
> in speed past where we are currently running.  ( being careful to understand
> the coeffiecnet of traction occurs at some point )
> 
> If we define the Center of pressure as being the point where lift and drag
> occur in a car,  then ultimately that will change the wheel weights and like
> doing a Center of Gravity chart I can also determine the actual center of
> pressure less the side forces involved...
> 
> What I know is that the current center of pressure is moving aft as the
> speed increases....  how far aft is still up for grabs... but it moves
> back... that much I know...
> 
> Keith






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