This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Aerodynamic Investigation of a Scooter in the University of Perugia Wind Tunnel Facility
Technical Paper
2002-01-0254
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Two wheels vehicles for city use are common in Europe and particularly in Italy. In the last ten years a new concept of motorcycle has been introduced on the market: maxi-scooters. Maxi-scooters represent an evolution of the small size engine scooters (from 50 to 125 cc) that were created in the 50s for city use. In the last decade the market turned to bigger swept volumes, such as 250 and 500 cc. This category of motorcycles is aimed to a richer and more adult market, which needs a pleasant design, riding comfort and stability at higher speed. On the other hand, such vehicles for city use are passing a critical moment in terms of development of the engines, because of the stricter limits imposed by the environmental regulations and for the consequent and significant effects on performance. Road tests are no longer sufficient to reach optimal performance and the aerodynamic data of actual scooters with swept volumes over 250 cc need to be isolated, reproduced and measured in a wind tunnel.
A wind tunnel and balance facility for motorcycle aerodynamic investigation, developed at the University of Perugia, is described in this paper. The development of the wind tunnel experimental set-up results from a research project between the University of Perugia and Piaggio S.p.A., one of the European leaders in scooters industry. Aerodynamic performances of a 500 cc scooter are presented in terms of aerodynamic forces and moments and related coefficients. The study is concentrated on the aerodynamic effects of important geometric changes that involve the front and the windshield.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Ubertini, S. and Desideri, U., "Aerodynamic Investigation of a Scooter in the University of Perugia Wind Tunnel Facility," SAE Technical Paper 2002-01-0254, 2002, https://doi.org/10.4271/2002-01-0254.Also In
References
- Cooper K.R. The Effect of Aerodynamics on the Performances and Stability of High Speed Motorcycles Proceedings of the Second AIAA Symposium on Aerodynamics of Sports and Competition Automobiles 1974
- Cooper K.R. The effect of Handlebar Fairings on Motorcycle Aerodynamics SAE Technical Paper 830156 1983
- Hucho W.H. Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles SAE International fourth 1998
- Galway R.D. A comparison of methods for calibration and use of multi-component strain gauge wind tunnel balances NRC report 18227 National Research Council of Canada 1980
- Flay RG.J. Vuletich I.J. Development of a Wind Tunnel Test Facility for Yacht Aerodynamic Studies Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 58 231 258 1995
- Taylor N.B. Kuyatt C.E. Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results NIST Technical Note 1297 1994
- SAE Vehicle Aerodynamics Terminology, Recommended Practice SAE J1594 1987
- Doebelin E.O. Measurement Systems Application and Design McGraw-Hill International Editions Fourth 1990
- Goldstein R.J. Fluid Mechanics Measurements Hemisphere Publishing Corporation 1983
- National Instruments 1999
- Garry K.P. Wallis S.B. Cooper K.R. Fediw A. Wilsden D.J. The Effect on Aerodynamic Drag of the Longitudinal Position of a Road Vehicle Model in a Wind Tunnel Test Section SAE Technical Paper 940414 1994