Added Masses and Volumes of Stationary Bodies in Non-Uniform Streams

A method is proposed for the evaluation of the added-volume coefficients of bluff bodies, by modelling the pressure gradient of the ambient stream by a remote point source. For complex body configurations, such as the automobile shapes, the new formula offers a practical alternative to the kinetic energy approach. It is shown that the longitudinal pressure gradient in a wind tunnel may affect not only the measured drag force but also the side and lift forces.