From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Outlining the programme for a series of wind tunnel tests on a car model.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\2\ scan0117 | |
Date | 14th June 1933 | |
X4598 To Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/KT.14.6.33. WIND TUNNEL TESTS. I have talked this matter over with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and he has more or less agreed with our programme which we agreed would be as follows. The first model goes into the wind tunnel. Half a day spent setting up. We then expect to get six tests in the afternoon, and twelve tests the next day at least, making eighteen tests in all. We can provide a list of twenty-two tests in order of merit, and if we have time for more than eighteen, the others can be included. The first eight tests will be on front wings. It is clearly not sufficient to state that the next series of tests should be taken with the best three types of wing because some of them are quite impracticable, i.e. the flared wing without the mudlip is hopeless. We suggest therefore that the three wings selected for the next lot of tests should be :- (1) Standard wings. (2) The bicycle type wing which will, we think, be obviously the best of the others, windage only being considered. (3) The type you consider to be the best from the point of utility and efficiency of the others. The 9th test will be to get the value of the car without the front wings to confirm our figure taken on the track. The 10th test - no wings at all as you suggest. We cannot see the practical use of removing the headlamps on this type of car, as we shall have to have headlamps, and there is not much possibility of putting them anywhere but where they are at present. Anyhow we can easily get a full scale test removing the lamps on the track. We have already pointed out that the fitting of undershields is impracticable. With regard to filling-in the window recesses, presumably you have some idea in your mind as to how this can be done in practice, but we feel fairly convinced that on the conventional car it will be a very small propor tion | ||