Fluid Dynamic Drag on Vehicles Travelling Through Tubes

摘要

The document presents the results of an investigation of the fluid dynamic drag force exerted on externally propelled vehicles moving axially through guideways of varying lengths, degrees of enclosure, and percentage of wall perforation area. The conditions differ from most wind or water tunnel studies because the models are moving relative to the tunnel walls and occupy a large percentage of the tunnel cross section. The prime motivation for the study was to provide basic design information for use in conceptual studies for proposed high speed ground transportation system. Experimental studies were conducted by measuring the terminal velocity of small scale models falling through transparent, vertical and inclined guide tubes filled with water. (Author)