I wanted to know something regarding formula cars in general.
Is it a good idea to have a wide sidepod obstructing the rear wheel so as to reduce drag do to the rear wheels, or does that itself create too much drag? Would it then be better to have a sidepod that is uniformly narrow, or one that starts off wide and becomes narrower? The car in question will have a diffuser running under the sidepods, and I'm planning to have the airflow out of the radiators directed between the rear wheels, below the rear wing. Is this good or is there something better in terms or aerodynamics?
I'd appreciate it if someone could help me
Sidepods, rear wheel drag etc.
Started by
antares
, Oct 25 2005 05:00
2 replies to this topic
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#2
imaginesix
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- 7,525 posts
- Joined: March 01
Member
Posted 25 October 2005 - 06:06
I can't sleep, so you get my uneducated take on things first.
Drag is primarily the result of airflow being forced to change directions, meaning it is forced to move around objects in it's path. Secondarily, drag is the result of air friction against a surface.
The air has no choice but to 'get out of the way' of the rear tires as the car moves forward, so the best you can do is to help it move around them in the most efficient way possible. Solar racers and land speed racers often have wheel fairings for the sole purpose of smoothing the airflow around the tire.
The next best solution (always with the goal of reducing drag) is to shape the sidepod in a way that conforms to the shape of the airstream around the rear tire. That is how I conceptually understand F1 sidepods to work, as they taper sharply ahead of the rear tire where the air is being forced to the sides. The sidepod performs the function of a wheel fairing but instead of shaping a high-pressure area ahead of the fairing, it shapes a low-pressure area behind the sidepod to subtly divert the air from it's collision course with the tire. At the same time, flip-ups ahead of the rear wheels encourage the air to flow up over the tire while providing an element of downforce to the car.
If the rear tires are relatively narrow and far removed from the body (as in F1600 or F2000 cars) then there won't be much to be gained. Moving the bodywork out far enough to have a strong effect on the airflow to the tires would likely result in a net increase in drag.
Drag is primarily the result of airflow being forced to change directions, meaning it is forced to move around objects in it's path. Secondarily, drag is the result of air friction against a surface.
The air has no choice but to 'get out of the way' of the rear tires as the car moves forward, so the best you can do is to help it move around them in the most efficient way possible. Solar racers and land speed racers often have wheel fairings for the sole purpose of smoothing the airflow around the tire.
The next best solution (always with the goal of reducing drag) is to shape the sidepod in a way that conforms to the shape of the airstream around the rear tire. That is how I conceptually understand F1 sidepods to work, as they taper sharply ahead of the rear tire where the air is being forced to the sides. The sidepod performs the function of a wheel fairing but instead of shaping a high-pressure area ahead of the fairing, it shapes a low-pressure area behind the sidepod to subtly divert the air from it's collision course with the tire. At the same time, flip-ups ahead of the rear wheels encourage the air to flow up over the tire while providing an element of downforce to the car.
If the rear tires are relatively narrow and far removed from the body (as in F1600 or F2000 cars) then there won't be much to be gained. Moving the bodywork out far enough to have a strong effect on the airflow to the tires would likely result in a net increase in drag.
#3
antares
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- 2 posts
- Joined: October 05
New Member
Posted 28 October 2005 - 04:53
bump!
Thanks imaginesix, that was extremely helpful
Thanks imaginesix, that was extremely helpful
