How to calculat fronatl area of scale car

[arriluk97]

Hello guys, I am doing a wind tunnel and I want to calculate the aerodynamic coefficient of some cars. To calculate this I need the frontal area of the car and I don't know how to calculate it manual. Is there any pc program to do it or any formula? Thank you very much.

 

[SteamKing]

If you don't have a drawing or a photograph of the front end of the test car, it's going to be a pretty difficult calculation.

You can always measure the height and width of of the test car, calculate the area of the box, and apply a factor to account for the shape
of the car, the open bits underneath, etc.

 

[FactChecker]

If you don't have a drawing or a photograph of the front end of the test car, it's going to be a pretty difficult calculation.

I will assume that everyone has a digital camera these days, You could put the model car in front of a wall with dimensions marked and take a picture. Print the picture and cut out the car outline. Compare the weight of the car cut out with the weight of a known area cut out.

 

[boneh3ad]

I will assume that everyone has a digital camera these days, You could put the model car in front of a wall with dimensions marked and take a picture. Print the picture and cut out the car outline. Compare the weight of the car cut out with the weight of a known area cut out.

As long as your dimensions marked on the wall were suitably adjusted to account for perspective that would work.

 

[FactChecker]

As long as your dimensions marked on the wall were suitably adjusted to account for perspective that would work.

I think if the model car is against the wall and the camera is back a little. the effect of perspective will be minimal.

 

[jack action]

Here, you have a simple calculator for drag & lift coefficients and frontal area. The equations used are in the Theory section at the bottom of the page.