Page 4 of 5
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 02:56
by alelanza
LVDH wrote: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
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 03:00
by alelanza
PlatinumZealot wrote:
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
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 04:24
by Cold Fussion
alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 03:00
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.
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 08:51
by Andres125sx
alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 03:00
That's to reduce the radar signature prior to computer designed radar avoidance
Sorry for the OT, but I´m curious about this
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 12:43
by alelanza
Cold Fussion wrote:alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 03:00
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
Andres125sx wrote:alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 03:00
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
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 16:31
by Brake Horse Power
Maybe that makes the Tesla invisible to speed radar

lot of people would like that
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 19:39
by Andres125sx
alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 12:43
Cold Fussion wrote:alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 03:00
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
Andres125sx wrote:alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 03:00
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?
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 20:31
by strad
It would if painted with R.A.M....which I think is illegal in most jurisdictions.
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 21:11
by 3jawchuck
Andres125sx wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 19:39
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.
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 22:12
by 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
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 23:46
by alelanza
Andres125sx wrote:alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 12:43
Cold Fussion wrote:
I think the B2 bomber replaces F-117 role.
Andres125sx wrote:
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.
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 28 Nov 2019, 23:55
by 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.
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 29 Nov 2019, 01:52
by Brake Horse Power
Didn't the Iraqiees take one down with a heat seaking missile?
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 29 Nov 2019, 02:01
by djos
Brake Horse Power wrote: ↑29 Nov 2019, 01:52
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.
Re: Tesla truck, sharp edges and aero
Posted: 29 Nov 2019, 04:50
by PlatinumZealot
alelanza wrote: ↑28 Nov 2019, 03:00
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.