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View Full Version : Aerodynamics resources. . .books & how-to's???



atomicjoe23
03-01-2015, 06:44 PM
I'm finishing up my 3rd quarter in carbon fiber/composites classes at my local community college and the final class is all lab time where we get to make whatever we want using the school's resources and material. . .luckily the class isn't offered again until next year so that gives me lots of time to machine a bunch of fittings and make molds between now and then so I can be ready to knock parts out when the time comes. . .which brings me to my question. . .

. . .do any of you have any recommendations on good aerodynamics books? I'm looking for a book (or books) that are advanced enough to allow me to make parts that will hopefully be more than just a visual add on, but that will also be functional, but not so in depth that you have to ready them 15 times just to make sense of what is written in them. I'm specifically looking to learn about front splitters/spoilers, rear lip/duck-tail spoilers, underbody trays, rear diffusers, and things like NACA ducts for cooling and directing air flow for my '67 Firebird. . .

I'm a Tool & Die Maker by trade and I'm taking the carbon/composites classes to learn how to make parts for my cars/motorcycles instead of paying for what is already out there. . .there are a few books on Amazon that I'm eye-balling, but since I can't flip through them I don't know if they actually have anything useful in them.

Thanks for the help & recommendations!

atomicjoe23
03-03-2015, 10:37 AM
OK, three days and no responses. . .kinda understandable given the topic, but have any of you had the opportunity to even at least through any of these three books??? These are the three I am currently thinking of getting:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1845847768/ref=pe_157280_134242220_em_1p_2_ti

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0837601428/ref=pe_157280_134242220_em_1p_1_ti

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1482735253/ref=pe_157280_134242220_em_1p_0_ti

HomeBuilt
03-03-2015, 12:08 PM
Well this isn't a book, and you may have already read it, but Ron Sutton put a lot of work into this thread and it's opened my eyes up to a lot of things I hadn't considered. It might be worth checking out, and since it's free it couldn't hurt!

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/101460-Designing-Aerodynamics-for-Track-Performance

atomicjoe23
03-03-2015, 03:52 PM
Thanks HomeBuilt!

atomicjoe23
03-04-2015, 01:45 AM
HomeBuilt. . .I just wanted to say thanks again for linking me that thread.

I just started reading it and that is EXACTLY the type of information I was looking for. . .Thank you VERY much!!!

HomeBuilt
03-04-2015, 09:32 AM
Happy to help! I'd like to see some of the parts you end up making!

phantomjock
07-08-2015, 11:39 AM
Sorry for a "delayed" entry on this thread...
Those are great choices for books, and Ron's threads are all worth reading - several times.

A "fun" book -not to discount its accuracy- is an English Translation of a Japanese book. It is by Car Styling listed as: Special Volume 142 1/2. Its title appropriately is "Automotive Aerodynamics." Its author is Shinri MUTO. If you can find it, it is a good compliment to any of Simon McBeath's book. McBeath also has a text focused solely on Downforce, when you are ready to spend more money too. BTW he does an AeroBytes column, for RACECAR ENGINEERING might have some luck on google.

Cheers - Jim