WIND TUNNELS 101

BOUNDARY LAYER

A layer of slow-moving air next to an object’s surface, which can be manipulated by design. The dimples on a golf ball make a boundary layer that promotes laminar low and decreases drag; an idea used by Zipp wheels

LAMINAR FLOW

Air low that follows the shape of an object, causing low drag

DETACHED/ TURBULENT FLOW

Air low that does not follow the shape of the object, creating turbulent wake and much higher drag

STALL POINT

The yaw angle at which air low detaches from an object, causing drag to rise sharply