'Low-Speed Wake'
Improving the airflow over the front of the bobsled isn't the only key to reducing aerodynamic drag. This simulated image shows, in the light blue trailing colors, the "low-speed wake" that's created in the rear of the sled as it slices through the air on its runs down the curvy tracks of the competitive bobsled circuit. Reducing this wake is also critical to cutting the sled's times. Last month, Team Night Train won the first World Cup title for the United States in 17 years largely due to the huge aerodynamic gains made possible by high-performance computing and complex simulations. (Image: Exa Corporation)
See Also:
Winter Games: Videogame your way through the Olympics
The technology behind the Vancouver Olympic Games
Six high-tech ways to enjoy the 2010 Olympics
Republished with permission from PC World (view original version)
