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Author Topic: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?  (Read 6119 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« on: March 13, 2015, 06:28:43 am »

Originally developed for space travel, NACA ducts are all around us.
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Offline Snowman

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2015, 07:54:52 am »
Cool article but it was not designed for space travel as there is no air in space  :P It was designed as an inlet duct for aircraft.
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Offline tpl

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2015, 08:11:56 am »
Quote from: Snowman on March 13, 2015, 07:54:52 am
Cool article but it was not designed for space travel as there is no air in space  :P It was designed as an inlet duct for aircraft.
And as the article states a way to get the air in without disturbing the airflow across the surface.    Probably part of the wind tunnel work for the early jets especially the X series of supersonic aircraft.
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Offline Snowman

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2015, 08:22:56 am »
What is amusing about the car companies that started using the duct design is just how bad the aerodynamics of the cars they were putting them on.
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Offline Noto

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2015, 09:14:42 am »
Justin Pritchard, PhD.  :winner:

I really enjoyed reading it - the humour baked in was very suitable and thoroughly funny.

Quote from: Snowman on March 13, 2015, 07:54:52 am
Cool article but it was not designed for space travel as there is no air in space  :P It was designed as an inlet duct for aircraft.
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Offline Snowman

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2015, 09:18:29 am »
Yep, reality sucks....or blows. You decide.
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Offline WRX_Pilot

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2015, 09:41:57 am »
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Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2015, 11:54:12 am »
I love articles like this. Good job!  :thumbup:

Also, cars need more NACA ducts, and fewer hood scoops/blisters/surface flaming.
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Offline Triple Bob

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2015, 12:00:23 pm »
Quote from: Snowman on March 13, 2015, 09:18:29 am
Yep, reality sucks....or blows. You decide.

Well something blows around here.  :rofl2:
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Offline Triple Bob

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2015, 12:02:48 pm »
The Lotii also have them.



Completely flat undertray too.
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Offline tpl

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2015, 12:13:58 pm »
Quote from: Turbo Bob on March 13, 2015, 12:02:48 pm
The Lotii also have them.



Completely flat undertray too.
Is there a diffuser at the back?   I wonder if those ducts are sucking in high pressure air and letting it out in a low pressure area ( the diffuser) to give a little bit of downforce...or rather NOT to provoke lift from that flat underside.
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Offline nlm

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2015, 12:38:38 pm »
Quote from: Snowman on March 13, 2015, 07:54:52 am
there is no air in space

But there's the Air 'n Space museum....
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Offline Triple Bob

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2015, 01:10:15 pm »
Quote from: tpl on March 13, 2015, 12:13:58 pm
Quote from: Turbo Bob on March 13, 2015, 12:02:48 pm
The Lotii also have them.



Completely flat undertray too.
Is there a diffuser at the back?   I wonder if those ducts are sucking in high pressure air and letting it out in a low pressure area ( the diffuser) to give a little bit of downforce...or rather NOT to provoke lift from that flat underside.

That's exactly it, a low car with a front splitter and flat undertray creates a decent amount of downforce.  About 100kgs IIRC.
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Offline aquadorhj

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2015, 01:14:15 pm »
I think there's one on my suspension brace... Notbsure
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Offline jyarkony

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2015, 04:31:15 pm »
Quote from: Snowman on March 13, 2015, 07:54:52 am
Cool article but it was not designed for space travel as there is no air in space  :P It was designed as an inlet duct for aircraft.

Only you could get into space without going through the atmosphere Snowman.... Beam me up Snowy!  :rofl2:
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Offline Snowman

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2015, 04:35:23 pm »
Quote from: jyarkony on March 13, 2015, 04:31:15 pm
Quote from: Snowman on March 13, 2015, 07:54:52 am
Cool article but it was not designed for space travel as there is no air in space  :P It was designed as an inlet duct for aircraft.

Only you could get into space without going through the atmosphere Snowman.... Beam me up Snowy!  :rofl2:

Its about thrust to break the gravitational pull of earth...that's what she said anyways  :)
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Offline Triple Bob

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Re: Auto Tech: What on Earth is a NACA Duct?
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2015, 06:18:17 pm »
Quote from: jyarkony on March 13, 2015, 04:31:15 pm
Quote from: Snowman on March 13, 2015, 07:54:52 am
Cool article but it was not designed for space travel as there is no air in space  :P It was designed as an inlet duct for aircraft.

Only you could get into space without going through the atmosphere Snowman.... Beam me up Snowy!  :rofl2:

Snowy's right though, it was developed by the agency that (coincidentally) turned into NASA, but it has nothing to do with space travel.
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