Calculation of Vehicle Drag Coefficient and Coefficient of R

Trials in Direction 1
V1
V2
kph
kph
70
70
61
60
52
52
44
44
37
37
32
27
22

rho
g
A
M

1.22
9.81
2.3
1000

time
sec
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70

V actual
m/s
19.44
16.76
14.31
12.08
10.35
8.92
7.55
6.18

kg/m^3
m/s^2
m^2
kg
V model
m/s
19.44
17.94543
16.59177
15.35935
14.22905
13.18548
12.2161
11.31058
10.46031
9.658036
8.897624
8.173804
7.482028
6.818339
6.179262

V3
kph
70
60
51
43
38
32

Trials in Direction 2
V4
V5
kph
kph
70
70
60
61
51
52
43
43
37
37
32.5
27.5
22.5

density of air (adjust for your altitude)

gravitational constant
frontal area
mass of vehicle plus occupants
F
Newtons
299.8021
270.7322
246.4838
226.0603
208.7143
193.8758
181.1044
170.0549
160.4538
152.0824
144.7641
138.3552
132.7379
127.8153
123.507

a
m/s^2
0.299802
0.270732
0.246484
0.22606
0.208714
0.193876
0.181104
0.170055
0.160454
0.152082
0.144764
0.138355
0.132738
0.127815
0.123507

Sum of Error^2 (minimise by changing Cd and Crr)

Drag coefficient
Coefficient of rolling resistance

Cd =
Crr =

Error^2

V6
kph
70
60
51
44
37.5
32
27

V avg
kph
70.0
60.3
51.5
43.5
37.3
32.1
27.2
22.3

How to use this spreadsheet:

1. In Cell B6, specify whether yo
1
2. In Cells B7 through
G14, ente
1
decelerated in neutral. Always s
direction on a flat stretch of road
on some trials due to traffic. An

3. In Cell B18, enter you best es

4. In Cell B19, enter your vehicl

5. Using Solver (Tools/Solver...)

6. Confirm that the "Model" line

7. Cells F41 and F42 now give

8. Make modifications to your v

0.00000
0.02805
0.00585

25.00

0.01763
20.00

0.01279
0.00068
0.00413
0.00000
0.06913
0.369681
0.010571

Velocity [m/s]

time
sec
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70

15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
0

10

t and Coefficient of Rolling Resistance

o use this spreadsheet:

Cell B6, specify whether your data will be in "kph" or "mph".
kph = 0.277778 m/s
Cells B7 through
the vehicle
mphG14,
= enter
0.444444
m/s speed you recorded at 10 second intervals as the vehicle
erated in neutral. Always start the clock (t=0) at the same speed (ex 70 kph). Do 3 trials in each
on on a flat stretch of road (Columns V1 through V6). Don't worry if you can't fill in the lower speeds
me trials due to traffic. An average will be calculated based on the available data.

Cell B18, enter you best estimate of your vehicle's frontal area in m^2.

Cell B19, enter your vehicle's mass including occupants in kg.

ng Solver (Tools/Solver...) set Cell F39 to a minimum by changing cells F41 and F42.

nfirm that the "Model" line matches the "Actual" datapoints in the graph.

s F41 and F42 now give the drag coefficient and coefficient of rolling resistance for your vehicle.

ke modifications to your vehicle and repeat the test to see if you improved things.

Vehicle Velocity vs Time

25.00
20.00

Actual
Model

15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
0

10

20

30

40

Time [sec]

50

60

70

80