Fairing Well: Aerodynamic Truck Research at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center - From Shoebox to Bat Truck and Beyond, Drag, Mack, Kenworth, Peterbilt, International, Fuel Efficiency, Cabover

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Technology, Engineering, Automotive, Aeronautics & Astronautics
Cover of the book Fairing Well: Aerodynamic Truck Research at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center - From Shoebox to Bat Truck and Beyond, Drag, Mack, Kenworth, Peterbilt, International, Fuel Efficiency, Cabover by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781311105943
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: May 3, 2015
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781311105943
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: May 3, 2015
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this NASA report reviews research conducted by NASA on the aerodynamic efficiency of long-haul trucks. It may seem to be only a matter of fuel prices, drag coefficients, and vehicle modifications, but a nuanced examination of the subject reveals cultural influences on a technological development that might otherwise appear logical and straightforward. There are two principal objectives to this monograph. The first is to bring long overdue attention to research done at NASA Dryden on truck aerodynamics, work not usually associated with the agency but results from which had and continue to have a direct benefit to the U.S. economy. The second is to use this case as on opportunity to tease apart some of the strands of the social fabric in technology's construction and adaptation, something not regularly done with NASA's technical work. If we genuinely seek to understand ourselves, we can ill afford superficial attention to technological choices we — or others—make regarding its use, rejection, adoption, or adaptation. It's important to know who makes what decisions: the results can be surprising.

A reflection on NASA's interest in aerodynamically efficient trucks turns out to be more than just an account of fairings and base drag and surface roughness. This history is also about technological choices, cultural values, and how Americans define themselves. And since technology is a reflection of human choices and values this comes as no real surprise.

While regularly riding his bicycle from his home in North Edwards to the NASA Flight Research Center (today's Dryden Flight Research Center) on Edwards Air Force Base, Edwin J. "Ed" Saltzman noticed the push and pull of tractor-trailers as they passed him. Saltzman's route took him along a section of Highway 58 in Southern California's High Desert before veering off toward the base. The Dryden Flight Research Center is one of several tenants of the U. S. Air Force at Edwards. Highway 58 was, and is frequented by trucks coming from Arizona, Nevada, or Northern California that seek to avoid the greater Los Angeles area. As these tractor-trailers came upon Saltzman he first felt the bow wave of air pushing him away from the road and toward the sagebrush and tumbleweeds. But as the trucks swept past, their wakes had the opposite effect, tending to draw him toward the road, even causing rider and bicycle to lean into the lane. Anyone who's ridden a bicycle next to fast-moving traffic has felt some of this, although the full effect is available only to those bold enough to mingle with over-the-road tractor-trailers at highway speeds.

Saltzman came to the High Desert in 1951 to work as an engineer for the NACA, just four years after a human first successfully exceeded the speed of sound. He cut his aeronautical engineering teeth on the X-1 rocket planes that were still being used to explore the transonic and supersonic realms. In 1953, as the X-1 program wound down and the first Mach 2 flight took place, he began working on "Project 1226," later known as the X-15. The flight portion of the X-15 program lasted from 1959 to 1968, but it was preceded by years of engineering work to which Saltzman contributed. As he had on the X-1 program, he worked as an aerodynamicist focusing on questions of lift-to-drag ratios (L/D). While the NACA's X-1 and D-558-2 aircraft featured blunt afterbodies because of their rocket motors, the X-15 dwarfed both in terms of the rocket nozzle area and the resulting drag the aft end generated. Even before the X-15 program ended, Saltzman transferred to the XB-70 program, working on the Mach 3 experimental bomber that never saw production but which NASA used to explore high-speed atmospheric flight.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this NASA report reviews research conducted by NASA on the aerodynamic efficiency of long-haul trucks. It may seem to be only a matter of fuel prices, drag coefficients, and vehicle modifications, but a nuanced examination of the subject reveals cultural influences on a technological development that might otherwise appear logical and straightforward. There are two principal objectives to this monograph. The first is to bring long overdue attention to research done at NASA Dryden on truck aerodynamics, work not usually associated with the agency but results from which had and continue to have a direct benefit to the U.S. economy. The second is to use this case as on opportunity to tease apart some of the strands of the social fabric in technology's construction and adaptation, something not regularly done with NASA's technical work. If we genuinely seek to understand ourselves, we can ill afford superficial attention to technological choices we — or others—make regarding its use, rejection, adoption, or adaptation. It's important to know who makes what decisions: the results can be surprising.

A reflection on NASA's interest in aerodynamically efficient trucks turns out to be more than just an account of fairings and base drag and surface roughness. This history is also about technological choices, cultural values, and how Americans define themselves. And since technology is a reflection of human choices and values this comes as no real surprise.

While regularly riding his bicycle from his home in North Edwards to the NASA Flight Research Center (today's Dryden Flight Research Center) on Edwards Air Force Base, Edwin J. "Ed" Saltzman noticed the push and pull of tractor-trailers as they passed him. Saltzman's route took him along a section of Highway 58 in Southern California's High Desert before veering off toward the base. The Dryden Flight Research Center is one of several tenants of the U. S. Air Force at Edwards. Highway 58 was, and is frequented by trucks coming from Arizona, Nevada, or Northern California that seek to avoid the greater Los Angeles area. As these tractor-trailers came upon Saltzman he first felt the bow wave of air pushing him away from the road and toward the sagebrush and tumbleweeds. But as the trucks swept past, their wakes had the opposite effect, tending to draw him toward the road, even causing rider and bicycle to lean into the lane. Anyone who's ridden a bicycle next to fast-moving traffic has felt some of this, although the full effect is available only to those bold enough to mingle with over-the-road tractor-trailers at highway speeds.

Saltzman came to the High Desert in 1951 to work as an engineer for the NACA, just four years after a human first successfully exceeded the speed of sound. He cut his aeronautical engineering teeth on the X-1 rocket planes that were still being used to explore the transonic and supersonic realms. In 1953, as the X-1 program wound down and the first Mach 2 flight took place, he began working on "Project 1226," later known as the X-15. The flight portion of the X-15 program lasted from 1959 to 1968, but it was preceded by years of engineering work to which Saltzman contributed. As he had on the X-1 program, he worked as an aerodynamicist focusing on questions of lift-to-drag ratios (L/D). While the NACA's X-1 and D-558-2 aircraft featured blunt afterbodies because of their rocket motors, the X-15 dwarfed both in terms of the rocket nozzle area and the resulting drag the aft end generated. Even before the X-15 program ended, Saltzman transferred to the XB-70 program, working on the Mach 3 experimental bomber that never saw production but which NASA used to explore high-speed atmospheric flight.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book Russia After Putin: Ukraine, Syria, Relations with China, Beslan, Armenia, Stalin Lite, Magnitsky Scandal, Lavrov, Navalny, Russian Street Protests, European Union by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air National Guard Family Guide: History, Structure, Life, Managing Deployment, When Bad Things Happen, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Law of War Deskbook: JAG Textbook on History and Framework of Law of War, Legal Bases for Use of Force, Geneva Conventions, War Crimes, Human Rights, Comparative Law by Progressive Management
Cover of the book A History of the Women Marines, 1946-1977: Legislation, Korean War, Pepper Board, Snell Committee, Recruit and Officer Training, Uniforms, Promotions, Marriage, Motherhood, Husbands by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): U.S. Air Force Role in Future Air Warfare - Manned or Unmanned? (UAVs, Remotely Piloted Aircraft) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Dancing with the Dragon: U.S.-China Engagement Policy - Mutual Distrust, Asia-Pacific Geopolitics, Appeasement and Rebalancing, History and Culture, People's Republic of China's (PRC) Perspective by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Iran-Iraq War: Exceeding Means - Analysis of the Decision of Saddam Hussein to Invade Iran, Longest and Bloodiest War in Middle Eastern History, Ayatollah, Shia Unrest, Sunni, Bathist Regime by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Biological Incident Operations: A Guide for Law Enforcement - Terrorism Response, Protection, Intelligence, Investigation, Incidents, Personal Protection by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Bosnia and Herzegovina in Perspective: Orientation Guide and Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Society, Military, Religion, Serbs and Croats, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Mostar by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Laryngeal Cancer (Throat Cancer) - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Al-Anbar Awakening: Volume II - Iraqi Perspectives - From Insurgency to Counterinsurgency in Iraq, 2004-2009, Abu Ghraib, View of Daily Life, Religious and Political Perspectives by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Cyberspace Command and Control Model: The Nature of Cyberspace, Computer Networks, Information Environment, Internet, Data Manipulation, Legal Authorities, Cyber Attack, Cybernetics, Systems Theory by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Complete Guide to World War II's Forgotten War: The Aleutian Campaign in Alaska and North Pacific Against Japan - Kiska, Attu, Komandorski Islands, Operation Landcrab, Cold Weather Fighting, Navy by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: AIDS-Related Lymphoma and Primary CNS Lymphoma - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book NASA Space Exploration Report: International Space Station (ISS) - Lessons Learned as Applied to Exploration - Mission Objectives, Architecture, Operations, Utilization, Communications by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy