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If you look at the various intakes for our cars you will see a variety of designs. Some have more rounded bends, others are more angular, and the angle at which it meets the IM is different. How do various styles of pipes affect the effectiveness of an intake?

Same question for filters. I've seen a bunch of different types of filters. Some pull in air from the sides, others pull in air from the front and the sides, and others only from the front. Which design is most efficient and under what circumstances? I'm aware that K&N has forumulas through which you can figure out the most effective filter size for your application. Do various filter designs rely on size to be effective?

Headers also have various designs. How does the size and length of the pipe affect air flow and performance?

I'm very curious. If anyone has studied fluid dynamics or has some insight on this topic I would be curious to know what you know.

Thanks

 
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Going once...

 
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Aight... I'm still suffering through Fluids, but here's basically the deal. You want the smoothest, largest bends you can get, because it keeps the flow through it steady. You make sharp bends, you get recirculation areas which reduce the amount of area in the pipe that you have air flowing in the direction you want it to. You also want smooth walls because it keeps the friction down. Longer primaries on headers tend to knock out most of the turbulence and by the time it hits the collector, its smooth flow, which tends to help with torque.
Filters... more surface area, more air that you can filter at a time, more air that comes in.

Honestly, all intakes are filters on sticks... if any dynographs haven't already shown you that they're essentially all the same, then I don't know what to say. Its just air... it won't have a huge effect on the car.

 
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I just found a good article about exhausts the answers the same questions but for exhausts. I'll post it tonight or tomorrow when I log back on.

Thanks.