After the succesful live test on track march 24th @ Worldkarts we needed more scientific proof that the Kartskin suits are faster than a normal suit. So we contacted Bikevalley to do a windtunnel test.
The wind tunnel of Flanders Bike Valley has been specially developed for the cycling industry and athletes. They can improve their aerodynamic posture with the help of a test platform. Most wind tunnels use smoke to make wind anomalies visible. It is not possible to measure the effect of a different sitting position. Not only cyclists can use the wind tunnel, but also skaters, skiers and the automotive sector.
The wind tunnel in Beringen uses tiny oil particles that are tracked via a high-speed camera and infrared rays. Innovative software makes it possible to track every particle and calculate how big the effect is for manufacturers of materials if they design their products more aerodynamically.
Because this windtunnel is mainly used for cyclists , we needed to cut the backend of the kart so it could fit the windtunnel platform.
We tested 2 normal suits from 2 different brands and then we did the test with our Kartskins suit. The test was performed at a windspeed of 40km/h ( average speed indoor track ) , 60 km/h ( topspeed indoor track ) and 80 km/h ( topspeed outdoor track )
The results were jawdropping. The Kartskins suit has on average 10% less drag than the normal karting suits from the other brands. This saves up to 120W in power at top speed! Finally we have the proof on paper. The Kartskins suits are faster than the normal karting suits from other brands. The suits were tested at a speed of 40km/h ( average speed at an indoor track ) 60km/h ( Top speed at an indoor track ) and 80 km/h (top speed at an outdoor track)
1 Why is aerodynamics important ?
A lot of the engine’s energy is used in overcoming air resistance. Air resistance, also known as drag, is a critical factor that affects the speed of a go-kart. So if you can lower the CdA, you will have less drag and go faster.
2 What does CdA stand for ?
CdA is an abbreviation for the coefficient of aerodynamic drag. The CdA consists out of two components, Cd is coefficient of aerodynamic drag and is a function of the shape of the object. The A is the frontal area (expressed in m2) of the driver and kart.
3 What are the gains of a lower CdA ?
Gains of a lower CdA are substantial. A very generic rule is that every reduction in CdA by 0.01 means that nearly 10 watts less power is needed to go at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.
