Page 4 - Combined_137_OCR

SPACE DIVISION CHRYSLER ____
CORPORATION

A. INTRODUCTION

1. Background:

Aerodynamic testing of complete automobiles has been and will continue to
be, to a certain extent, an "after the fact" or after the basic styling configuration has been
decided upon situation. This occurs primarily because styling functions generally have
insufficient information on the aerodynamic factors affecting overall car performance. The
resulting automobile design may not be optimum insofar as body aerodynamic or cooling
systems are concerned. It has been shown, Reference 1, that minor changes in individual
body or trim components can make an appreciable difference in the overall automobile con­
figuration aerodynamic factors.

Past aerodynamic programs have been directed mainly toward "fixing" race
car configurations which involves a rather expensive process of changing subtle features of
the final car design by incorporating special components and/or releasing additional com­
ponents for specific models.

In recognition of the economics of designing sound aerodynamic shapes into
the basic automobile configuration and components rather than changing afterwards, this
proposal is aimed at providing engineers and stylists with a glossary of tested and proven
aerodynamic automobile component designs illustrated in a manner that styling personnel
can interpret the aerodynamic effect due to styling changes. In this manner, stylists can
partially obtain an understanding of favorable component configurations and shape their
designs accordingly during initial phases. It is visualized that a program such as this
could have a profound effect eventually on automobile styling as witnessed in modern air­
craft where aerodynamics and styling blend together.

2. Experience:

Chrysler Huntsville Operations (CHO) has personnel with a combined total of
more than 25 years experience in all phases of wind tunnel test work. Some of the personnel
worked at wind tunnel facilities prior to coming with CHO and are intimately familiar with
all aspects of wind tunnel testing and operation. This experience background qualifies them
for automobile wind tunnel tests since they have a knowledge of how to conduct unique tests
and what can be expected, strictly from the facility standpoint.

CHO is presently doing contract work for Marshall Space Flight Center which
calls for determining the sources of background noise in wind tunnels. In the past, studies
have been conducted to provide experimentally derived aerodynamic parameters on multi­
stage vehicle configurations and aerodynamic analyses conducted on advanced systems.
Detailed accounts of this work can be found in References 2 and 3.