Trucks Passing Wind
#1
09-06-2010, 04:22 PM
Trucks Passing Wind
One day, an 18-wheeler passes by and you get blasted by the bow wave. The next day, there's no bow wave at all. I think I've figured it out. It has to do with the prevailing wind.
Say the wind is coming from the right. The bow wave from a passing truck is pushed away from you by the wind, so the "felt blast" is minimized. If the wind is coming from the left, a passing truck's bow wave is pushed in your direction, greatly amplifying the felt blast and blowing you (and your bike) into the right-hand side of your lane.
If the prevailing wind blows the bow wave into your lane, does it have the same effect to the vacuum that is pulled along behind the truck? In other words, does that "drafting bubble" bend with the prevailing wind? Maybe it's just my imagination, but I swear that the "suck zone" extends into my lane when the wind is blowing from left to right.
The passing truck's "suck zone" is a void, and this is what bothers me. Can a void be moved by the relative flow of air, or is it just me? Here's the question for HDForum readers...
When an 18-wheeler passes you on a windy day, going 80-85 miles per hour, does it blow or suck?
Say the wind is coming from the right. The bow wave from a passing truck is pushed away from you by the wind, so the "felt blast" is minimized. If the wind is coming from the left, a passing truck's bow wave is pushed in your direction, greatly amplifying the felt blast and blowing you (and your bike) into the right-hand side of your lane.
If the prevailing wind blows the bow wave into your lane, does it have the same effect to the vacuum that is pulled along behind the truck? In other words, does that "drafting bubble" bend with the prevailing wind? Maybe it's just my imagination, but I swear that the "suck zone" extends into my lane when the wind is blowing from left to right.
The passing truck's "suck zone" is a void, and this is what bothers me. Can a void be moved by the relative flow of air, or is it just me? Here's the question for HDForum readers...
When an 18-wheeler passes you on a windy day, going 80-85 miles per hour, does it blow or suck?
Last edited by Roosterboots; 09-06-2010 at 04:25 PM.
#3
09-06-2010, 04:27 PM
Three minutes after I posted, you answered. It's Labor Day. Haven't you got anything better to do?
Roo!
Roo!
#4
09-06-2010, 04:28 PM
Join Date: Jul 2008
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#7
09-06-2010, 07:32 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
passing a truck at 80-85 can definitely suck!
seriously though, while coming back from Kernville last weekend southbound on 395 ( 2 lane hi-speed mf of a road) the wind blast from the trucks did not hit us much as the wind was coming from the southwest.
seriously though, while coming back from Kernville last weekend southbound on 395 ( 2 lane hi-speed mf of a road) the wind blast from the trucks did not hit us much as the wind was coming from the southwest.
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#8
09-06-2010, 11:44 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
It's kind of weird and unpredictable. I think it has more to do with what kind of truck it is and how it's pushing the wind. Coming down the 395 today we had a truck hit us with what felt like a 900mph wind and then the next three that passed didn't have any affect at all. The wind was blowing towards us at the time. Strange.
#9
09-07-2010, 01:22 AM
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you can figure it out for yourself .. here
http://www.euclideanspace.com/maths/...gram/index.htm
hehe
she is one trucker who could make a pass at me, and suck or blow, either one would be good.
http://www.superficialgallery.com/ic...isa-kelly/5121
http://www.euclideanspace.com/maths/...gram/index.htm
hehe
she is one trucker who could make a pass at me, and suck or blow, either one would be good.
http://www.superficialgallery.com/ic...isa-kelly/5121
#10
09-07-2010, 01:29 AM
When an 18-wheeler passes you on a windy day, going 80-85 miles per hour, does it blow or suck?
but that's the "suck you in sideways" part of it that happens wether it is windy or not