Nissan Full-Scale Wind Tunnel - Its Application to Passenger Car Design

In the development of high-speed automotive vehicles, wind resistance and vehicle stability characteristics, particularly aerodynamic lift and side-force effects, must be better understood. For this purpose and other uses, the Nissan Motor Co. has constructed a new full-scale wind tunnel now in operation at its Oppama Proving Ground.

The new wind tunnel has been used for experimental studies of the factors contributing to the aerodynamic characteristics of passenger car bodies, and the results are described herein. The authors have also clarified the relationship between aerodynamic characteristics and high-speed road performance. The effect of minor changes in car shape, with various attachments, has been investigated.

Finally, the principle of a rear spoiler is treated both theoretically and experimentally at some length.