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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle flutter
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 19:13:20 -0500
From: "Erik Sprenne" <sprenne_at_netnitco.net>


> > But the basic blade shape will determine the susceptibility of the
> > paddle to flutter.
> >
> I agree - but also think that any standardized way of
> measuring flutter will also influence the results in some
> way.  Of course, one could then devise a test method biased
> toward the desired results :-)

This is a perennial problem.  Without a standard test, we're nowhere.  With one,
we tend to influence things, sometimes the wrong way.  For example, years ago,
benchmarking computers resulted in computer designers coming up with computers
that excelled at the benchmarks to the exclusion of other things.

Someone (intermittently on this list lately) at a club meeting this past spring predicted   
that in a few years all touring paddlers will be using variations of wing paddles (this
after we agreed that most paddling "standards" are essentially the current fad and prone
to change over time).  In that context, a bias against flutter may be inappropriate, since 
the behavior may be irrelevant in future touring wing paddle design.  

The engineer in me still prefers a standard (terminology or measurements) so we have 
at least some baseline for comparison.   The people just have to learn how to interpret 
the results without "getting religion".  

Mike



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