Typical Drag Coefficients for Objects of Interest

Reference Drag Reference Drag Coefficient

Shape Reynolds Shape
Area Coefficient Area A CD
Number
A CD
Frontal Area
Parachute 1.4
1.17 A= D2
Solid 2
Re > 104 4
D A= D
Hemisphere 4
0.42
Porosity 0 0.2 0.5
Porous Frontal Area
Parabolic 1.42 1.20 0.82
Hollow
A=

D2
1.42
Re > 104 Dish A=

D2
D 0.95 0.90 0.80
Hemisphere 4 4
0.38
Standing CDA = 9 ft2
Average Sitting CDA = 6 ft2
D Thin Disk A= D2 1.1 Re > 103 Person
4 Crouching CDA = 2.5 ft2
l
l/D CD
l l/D CD Fluttering
D A = l.D 1 0.07
Circular 0.5 1.10 Flag 2 0.12

Rod A= D2 1.0 0.93 Re > 105 3 0.15
D Parallel 4 2.0 0.83
to Flow 4.0 0.85
Empire State
Frontal Area 1.4
Building
CD
10 0.30 Six-Car Frontal Area 1.8
D Cone A= D2 30 0.55 Re > 104 Passenger Train
4 60 0.80 BIKES
90 1.15 A = 5.5 ft2 1.10
Upright Commuter

Racing A = 3.9 ft2 0.88

D Cube A= D 2
1.05 Re > 104 Drafting A = 3.9 ft2 0.50
Streamlined A = 5.0 ft2 0.12

D Frontal Area 0.96

Cube A = D2 0.80 Re > 104 Frontal Area 0.76
Frontal Area 0.70
U U = 10 m/s 0.43
D Tree U = 20 m/s Frontal Area 0.26
A= D2 0.04 Re > 105
U = 30 m/s 0.20
Streamlined Body 4
Dolphin 0.0036 at Re = 6.106
Wetted Area
(flat plate has CD f = 0.0031)
Large
Birds Frontal Area 0.40