Is there a limit to how fast they can run?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/automobiles/a-man-with-an-irresistible-urge-to-run-wide-open.html?_r=1&hp (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/automobiles/a-man-with-an-irresistible-urge-to-run-wide-open.html?_r=1&hp)
Now does it work?
link doesn't work for me. :-\
edit...
does now. [thumbsup]
no...but I think the FIA does have an age/health/fitness limitation
Cool article. [thumbsup]
Interesting that they talk about Bonneville, and show a map, but fail to mention that the current world speed record was done at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada because it apparently has a longer suitable area than Bonneville. All future records will likely be done there as well from what I understand.
I think the only real limit now on the record is space. Everything else can be engineered, but no matter what you have to have enough room to get up to speed and then to stop.
Quote from: Triple J on May 15, 2012, 11:44:49 AM
Cool article. [thumbsup]
Interesting that they talk about Bonneville, and show a map, but fail to mention that the current world speed record was done at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada because it apparently has a longer suitable area than Bonneville. All future records will likely be done there as well from what I understand.
I think the only real limit now on the record is space. Everything else can be engineered, but no matter what you have to have enough room to get up to speed and then to stop.
Pretty cool on board from that day.
Thrust SSC Supersonic Car - The Final Run 66 - Cockpit View - Black Rock Desert, Nevada - 1997 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwh7Hlk6q1I&feature=youtube_gdata_player#)
Thrust SSC Supersonic Boom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYEtQGLzvkI&feature=youtube_gdata_player#)
Black Rock Desert,Nev. Huh,I did not know that.How does the surface compare to the salt flats?
Quote from: Ducatamount on May 15, 2012, 12:19:52 PM
Black Rock Desert,Nev. Huh,I did not know that.How does the surface compare to the salt flats?
WELL...there is talk of the salt eroding, it dissapearing, and getting thin by many different reports...so I think there was a need to find an alternate location so as to be able to save and preserve the speed trials and keep them in America...
how it compares the surface or what the surface there is like...I don't know...but expansive space and flatness were the key things they were looking for...
Quote from: Ducatamount on May 15, 2012, 03:24:04 AM
Is there a limit to how fast they can run?
When a plane goes transonic the sound waves are able to disperse in all directions, but when a land or water vehicle does some of the waves bounce off the surface and destabilize the vehicle. I am over simplifying a ton here, but this is a big part of what the boffins need to figure out.
Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on May 15, 2012, 01:00:15 PM
When a plane goes transonic the sound waves are able to disperse in all directions, but when a land or water vehicle does some of the waves bounce off the surface and destabilize the vehicle. I am over simplifying a ton here, but this is a big part of what the boffins need to figure out.
Should already be figured out since they've succesfully exceeded the speed of sound on land.
Quote from: Ducatamount on May 15, 2012, 12:19:52 PM
Black Rock Desert,Nev. Huh,I did not know that.How does the surface compare to the salt flats?
Well, it's flat and expansive just like Bonneville. It's a dry lake bed as well, but isn't a salt layer, just a typical dry lake bed. It's nice when it's dry, unbelievably muddy and useless when wet. Very cool place to visit if you're ever in the area just because it is so unique and weird.
Bloodhound SSC - The Next Step (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xOX-r60HpM&feature=youtube_gdata_player#)
Quote from: Triple J on May 15, 2012, 01:07:04 PM
Should already be figured out since they've succesfully exceeded the speed of sound on land.
No.
Different aerodynamic shapes, different internal structures, it's not just copy and paste.
Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on May 15, 2012, 01:38:57 PM
No.
Different aerodynamic shapes, different internal structures, it's not just copy and paste.
Please explain.
As I understand it, transonic is the speed just before and just after the sound barrier is reached. Like Mach 0.8 to 1.2 or so (actual speed varies)...the condition when some, but not all, of the airflow around the vehicle is supersonic. Since the last speed attempt successfully exceeded Mach 1.0 it would seem they've already achieved stability at transonic speeds.
Going to Bonnevillle for Speed Week sometime is on my Must Do list. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Speedbag on May 15, 2012, 04:07:14 PM
Going to Bonnevillle for Speed Week sometime is on my Must Do list. [thumbsup]
Don't take a car that you care about out on the salt.
It's a death sentence by rustification.
An article on the Bloodhound attempt and the search for where to do it. Turns out the Black Rock desert isn't big enough either. (The Black Rock desert is also famous for being the location of the annual Burning Man festival.) Anyhow, Andrew Green may be going to Africa to try to hit 1000mph on land.
PhilB
Quote from: Speeddog on May 15, 2012, 05:32:20 PM
Don't take a car that you care about out on the salt.
It's a death sentence by rustification.
Oh, I plan on just spectating. :)
Quote from: Speeddog on May 15, 2012, 05:32:20 PM
Don't take a car that you care about out on the salt.
It's a death sentence by rustification.
Can't be any worse than driving in NH in the winter. ;)
Quote from: ducpainter on May 15, 2012, 06:14:25 PM
Can't be any worse than driving in NH in the winter. ;)
a crisp winter day might be perfect for land speed attempts on the Kanc [thumbsup]
Quote from: Speeddog on May 15, 2012, 05:32:20 PM
Don't take a car that you care about out on the salt.
It's a death sentence by rustification.
how many did you kill? ;D
Quote from: Triple J on May 15, 2012, 01:57:41 PM
Since the last speed attempt successfully exceeded Mach 1.0 it would seem they've already achieved stability at transonic speeds.
They've achieved it for one vehicle of a certain shape, mass, internal structure, etc... It's not a one size fits all problem.
Quote from: Triple J on May 15, 2012, 01:57:41 PM
the condition when some, but not all, of the airflow around the vehicle is supersonic.
"Severe instability can occur at transonic speeds. Shock waves move through the air at the speed of sound. When an object such as an aircraft also moves at the speed of sound, these shock waves build up in front of it to form a single, very large shock wave. During transonic flight, the plane must pass through this large shock wave, as well as contending with the instability caused by air moving faster than sound over parts of the wing and slower in other parts" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transonic_speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transonic_speed)
That is part of the problem, shock waves coming off part of the vehicle forcing parts or all of it in one direction or another. If it affects only a part (eg a wing or a wheel) it can break off or explode; if the wave affects the whole vehicle it can become airborne, sink in the ground, or jump left or right (while doing about 800MP/H...).
Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on May 16, 2012, 05:21:07 AM
They've achieved it for one vehicle of a certain shape, mass, internal structure, etc... It's not a one size fits all problem.
Gotcha...I see what you were saying now. I didn't mean to imply it had been solved for every vehicle...just that it's been done before, so it is understood and can be done again...i.e. it isn't something that can't be engineered around.
That's why I think the only real limiting factor for the world speed record at this point is space. Everything else can be engineered (taking incremental steps of course).
I think it's a matter of resources and the interest in finding a solution: we've had supersonic flight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_X-1) for over 64 years now. So we know it's possible. Getting cars and boats to go supersonic is just a matter of investing in the technology.