Cant help but wondering (looking at a couple front grill pics) if ford left air flow into radiator as a last thought? Just would of liked to see a more uniform air flow pattern in front grill.To me these look like engineers had to do some last minute adjusting...

 

pic 2

 

I don't know but that 2nd picture makes the optional wheels look WAY better.

 

As an Engineer myslef, I can only imagine that they had a logical reason for designing it the way they did. Cost, schedule and performance all were factors I'm sure.

Side Note, yes the rims look nice.

 

True about the rims. The light reflection off of them gives you a better idea of how "bright machined" really looks.

 

I never noticed it before, but the grill does look a little wierd with no distict pattern to the open sections. Huh?.......oh well...........still looks great.



Yeah..I ordered those wheels!!!




Moderated Post

 

That grill in the second pic is very weird looking... I'll have to pay close attention to the ones I see on the road.

As an engineer, I agree with Clan. There must have been a reason why the open area of the grill looks the way it does. It sure is weird looking, though.

 

I can only assume (another engineer here) that the grill opening was closed up to increase the velocity of the air as it passes through.

I wouldn't say it was an afterthought, I would say it was more because of things they learned when testing the mules.

 

A lot of the actual cooling air on a lot of cars come primarily from the lower grill/valence area and I suspect the Mustang may be the same. If so, only a minor portion of the actual cooling air is coming through the upper grill, despite visual appearances, and thus, closing off a few grill cells, while an aesthetically clumsy design solution, probably has no real practical effect on cooling. And I imagine it will only be a matter of days before people figure out ways to open up those closed cells anyway.

 

Why would reducing the grill area increase air velocity?

The only way this would be possible is if the flowrate remains constant. To cram the same amount of air in a smaller space would require a greater velocity. But you're making a big assumption that the flowrate remains constant.

Perhaps if the air was funnelled in, I could see this to be true. But the way the car looks, I think the air that hits the panelled section of the grill will simply travel up the hood insteads of through the grill.

I'm not an aeordynamics engineer, I'm a mechanical engineer. But I have taken some fluid dynamics.

PS. I'm not saying that you're wrong about the increase in velocity. I just don't see why the velocity would be increased.

 

The air hits the indentation, and is probably forced through the 2 openings....whereas if the all 4 sections were open, wouldn't be as concentrated as if the 2 were closed.

Try turning your vents inside the car on full blast, and have all 4 vents open...then close 1, 2, then 3 and see the differences in quantity of air comes through.

So not only do the grille blocks channel flow to where they want it concentrated most, it helps with the ammount that goes in.

Was it an afterthought? well probably....or we would have seen it from the beginning. They probably tested the car and found a better more effecient way to channel air and keep things cool. I welcome it, looks neet.

And the blockouts on the grille are NOT as bad in person as when taken a pic with flash....

 

Good point, looks like I have to brush up my fluids as well,

part of the reason the area of the opening was reduced was infact to improve on drag.

I guess for the upper grille there wouldn't be that much of an increase in velocity, but because the lower grille is recessed, I would assume there is a slight "nozzle" effect down there, with the air moving somewhat faster through the 2 smaller openings.

My background is mechanical as well, and I specialized in manufacturing, so I am not a fluids expert.

 

There was too much open surface area. The engines weren't staying warm enough. Ironically the front clip which is the reason for the poor aero is the same reason they HAD an over-cooling issue. And the grill you see is the resolution.
The cooling issue is great news for performance enthusiast that may add a vortech in the future, they can open up the grill to keep everything cooler. but the trade off is less than stellar aero.

it was never an afterthought, unless you meant the function following the form B)

later

 

Sounds like I should stick to manufactring wn3d:

Thanks for the explanation SirWindsor

 

Yep, i'm sticking to 1's and 0's

Never even thought OVER cooling was an issue.....

 

agreed,

 

I'm an aeronautical/mechanical engineering graduate, and what SirWindsor states makes good sense

 

It makes sense, but the fact that it is his first posts, and he provides no source makes me wonder where he gets his info from.

 

It makes sense, but the fact that it is his first posts, and he provides no source makes me wonder where he gets his info from. [/b][/quote]
Does it really matter??

 

NO!