Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero

[alelanza]

I actually wondered how long it would take me to make a 3D model of the vehicle (15min) and run it through a CFD simulation. Here are the first rough results:



Based on this, some first thoughts:
There is a big separation at the front upper edge. I think, they probably use the "light-bar" to have a more rounded edge than I do in my model.
Other than that, the long slant at the rear seems to help reduce drag, esp. when you close of bed as it seems to be possible. By doing that they recover a lot of pressure, which will then later act on the tail gate and more pressure at the rear equals to less drag.
Having the bed closed off like that will create lift, but I guess at the speeds it will be driving and the total mass it will have it will be fine.
On conventional trucks you can slightly reduce drag by closing the bed. The box design means that there is a seperation behind the cabin anyways,s o it does not do much. On the Tesla design, it will work much better (I still have to test), which shows they put more thought into this, as some people might want to believe.

Very cool! What did it look like with the bed cover? How about different heights, all times will have adjustable suspension height

[alelanza]

My understanding is that sharp edges are never a good thing for slippery aero. Here I guess they’re dictated by the nature of the type of steel used/production logistics. Does this thing have any hope of a low cd?

https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck

Mkbhd video
https://youtu.be/oTZ84U-K_5k

Some fighter Jets have sharp edges..

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance, not for good aero. It's also a bomber not a fighter, and it's been retired ever since for a better aero approach, f22 I think

[Cold Fussion]

My understanding is that sharp edges are never a good thing for slippery aero. Here I guess they’re dictated by the nature of the type of steel used/production logistics. Does this thing have any hope of a low cd?

https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck

Mkbhd video
https://youtu.be/oTZ84U-K_5k

Some fighter Jets have sharp edges..

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... _Front.jpg

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance, not for good aero. It's also a bomber not a fighter, and it's been retired ever since for a better aero approach, f22 I think

I think the B2 bomber replaces F-117 role.

[Andres125sx]

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance

Sorry for the OT, but I´m curious about this

[alelanza]

Some fighter Jets have sharp edges..

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... _Front.jpg

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance, not for good aero. It's also a bomber not a fighter, and it's been retired ever since for a better aero approach, f22 I think

I think the B2 bomber replaces F-117 role.

You're right, thanks

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance

Sorry for the OT, but I´m curious about this

Radar needs to bounce its waves back. When you have curves you have an infinite amount of angles so to speak to do the reflection, when you have flat surfaces you have a discreet amount of reflection angles. For example you're guaranteed to see curved things such as modern cars as shiny objects because there will always be a section of the surface that perfectly reflects light back at you. However if your car was made of flat surfaces, even with the same paint and finish, you would have to intentionally position yourself at just the right angle to get the same amount of"shine" back into your eyes (radars)
The f117 is not only bad aerodinamically (I don't think it was able of supersonic flight) but also highly unstable to there point where it could only be flown with the assistance of computers that were correcting the human inputs all the time

[Brake Horse Power]

Maybe that makes the Tesla invisible to speed radar lot of people would like that

[Andres125sx]

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance, not for good aero. It's also a bomber not a fighter, and it's been retired ever since for a better aero approach, f22 I think

I think the B2 bomber replaces F-117 role.

You're right, thanks

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance

Sorry for the OT, but I´m curious about this

Radar needs to bounce its waves back. When you have curves you have an infinite amount of angles so to speak to do the reflection, when you have flat surfaces you have a discreet amount of reflection angles. For example you're guaranteed to see curved things such as modern cars as shiny objects because there will always be a section of the surface that perfectly reflects light back at you. However if your car was made of flat surfaces, even with the same paint and finish, you would have to intentionally position yourself at just the right angle to get the same amount of"shine" back into your eyes (radars)
The f117 is not only bad aerodinamically (I don't think it was able of supersonic flight) but also highly unstable to there point where it could only be flown with the assistance of computers that were correcting the human inputs all the time

Thanks for the explanation, but what I was curious about was the part of prior to computer designed radar avoidance. Was the technique you perfectly explained substituded with some sort of system wich makes a plane invisible to radar even with curved surfaces? How is that possible?

[strad]

It would if painted with R.A.M....which I think is illegal in most jurisdictions.

[3jawchuck]

Thanks for the explanation, but what I was curious about was the part of prior to computer designed radar avoidance. Was the technique you perfectly explained substituded with some sort of system wich makes a plane invisible to radar even with curved surfaces? How is that possible?

At least radar absorbing paint of some kind. Probably other things too.

[strad]

Radar-absorbing material (RAM) is a specialist class of polymer-based material applied to the surface of stealth military aircraft, such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, to reduce the radar cross-section and thereby make them harder to detect by radar.

Not sure but I think it's rubber based

[alelanza]

I think the B2 bomber replaces F-117 role.

Sorry for the OT, but I´m curious about this

Radar needs to bounce its waves back. When you have curves you have an infinite amount of angles so to speak to do the reflection, when you have flat surfaces you have a discreet amount of reflection angles. For example you're guaranteed to see curved things such as modern cars as shiny objects because there will always be a section of the surface that perfectly reflects light back at you. However if your car was made of flat surfaces, even with the same paint and finish, you would have to intentionally position yourself at just the right angle to get the same amount of"shine" back into your eyes (radars)
The f117 is not only bad aerodinamically (I don't think it was able of supersonic flight) but also highly unstable to there point where it could only be flown with the assistance of computers that were correcting the human inputs all the time

Thanks for the explanation, but what I was curious about was the part of prior to computer designed radar avoidance. Was the technique you perfectly explained substituded with some sort of system wich makes a plane invisible to radar even with curved surfaces? How is that possible?

Correct, read up on the B2 bomber mentioned above. It's shaped by computers to still have a small radar footprint (though I think not as much as the 117) but is curvy and likely with better aero. However I think it still can't be operated without a computer making adjustments.

[djos]

The reason the F117 has flat surfaces is due to the lack of computing power at The time it was being designed to calculate a radar reflecting shape with curved surfaces.

The B2 was the result of much more computing power being available and it has the radar cross section of a pigeon as a result. The only reason the B2 needs computers to fly it is due to the flying wing design being inherently unstable, it has nothing to do with the stealth properties.

[Brake Horse Power]

Didn't the Iraqiees take one down with a heat seaking missile?

[djos]

Didn't the Iraqiees take one down with a heat seaking missile?

Not a B2, no. Several F117’s have been lost in combat iirc.

[PlatinumZealot]

My understanding is that sharp edges are never a good thing for slippery aero. Here I guess they’re dictated by the nature of the type of steel used/production logistics. Does this thing have any hope of a low cd?

https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck

Mkbhd video
https://youtu.be/oTZ84U-K_5k

Some fighter Jets have sharp edges..

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... _Front.jpg

That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance, not for good aero. It's also a bomber not a fighter, and it's been retired ever since for a better aero approach, f22 I think

Compare the thrust to top speed of this jet with other stealth fighter jets. before u say its draggy.