FROM WING CARS TO FLAT BOTTOMS

Jorge Arnedo García – Miguel Andrés Masip – Lucas Bernácer Soriano – Francisco García Villanueva 1. Introduction

- Aerodynamic design of a F1

- Generation of downforce

- Bottom layout

Diffuser and flat bottom layout

Why did they need such a long time to introduce this concept if it was known in the aviation industry since the 20's?

“Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines”

Enzo Ferrari 1. IntroductionIntroduction

- Aerodynamic design of a F1

- Generation of downforce

- Bottom layout

Diffuser and flat bottom layout

Why did they need such a long time to introduce this concept if it was known in the aviation industry since the 20's?

F1 needed a new generation of engineers

Colin Chapman 2. FundamentalsFundamentals of carsof cars aerodynamics aerodynamics

2.1 Aerodynamical forces Aerodynamical forces

Lateral Downforce Drag stability

- Pulls down the - Resistance force exhorted by the air vehicle to the ground - Looking for reducing this force

- Gives stability when cornering at high speeds 2. Fundamentals of cars aerodynamics

2.1 Aerodynamical forces Aerodynamical forces

Lateral Downforce Drag stability

Monza vs Monaco car configuration 2. FundamentalsFundamentals of carsof cars aerodynamics aerodynamics

2.2 Mechanisms to generate downforce

Lift generation

Downforce generation 2. Fundamentals of cars aerodynamics

2.2 Mechanisms to generate downforce

Downforce generation

Frontal aileron Rear aileron 2. Fundamentals of cars aerodynamics

2.2 Mechanisms to generate downforce

Downforce generation

- Flow acceleration due to the ground effect

- Greater pressure difference

- Suction effect

Bottom layout configuration 2. FundamentalsFundamentals of carsof cars aerodynamics aerodynamics

2.3 Downforce distribution

Downforce generation along the car 3. BottomBottom evolution evolution through through decades decades

3.1 70s: Birth of aerodynamics in F1

Introduction of the airplanes ground effect into F1 cars

LOTUS 78

- Designed by

- Inverted airfoil shape

- High adherence in quick turns

Lotus 78-79 3. Bottom evolution through decades

3.1 70s: Birth of aerodynamics in F1

Introduction of the airplanes ground effect into F1 cars

Brabham BT46B

- Known as the “fan car”

- Extracted air from the bottom of the car

- The generated depression attached the car to the ground

Brabham’s fan car 3. BottomBottom evolution evolution through through decades decades

3.2 80s: The seek for safety

New safety regulations and standardization

Ban of the flexible skirts in the sidepods

More difficult to obtain ground effect 3. BottomBottom evolution evolution through through decades decades

3.2 80s: The seek for safety

New New modifications restrictions by the engineers

Safety was not improved and more deaths took place GROUND EFFECT WAS BANNED 3. Bottom evolution through decades

3.3 90s: Diffusers and flat bottoms

More stable behavior

Imposition of the flat bottom

Determined the car dimensions

The diffuser becomes the most important part

- Allows teams to increase the downforce generation

- Pressure difference generation along the underbody

Flat bottom and diffuser bottom shape 3. Bottom evolution through decades

3.3 90s: Diffusers and flat bottoms

BROWN’s revolutionary double diffuser

- Extracted air in a more efficient way - Increased negative pressure and downforce - Banned at the end of the season

Double diffuser design implemented by BROWN 3. BottomBottom evolution evolution through through decades decades

3.3 90s: Diffusers and flat bottoms

Newey’sNewey’sblowblow diffuser diffuser - Introduced more mass flow at the bottom of the car - Employed exhaust gases to re-energize the flow

Newey’s blow diffuser concept 4. ExperimentalExperimental measurements measures

Perform a comparison in terms of downforce generation

LOTUS 79 2017 F1 car

Inverted wing bottom layout Diffuser + flat bottom 4. ExperimentalExperimental measurements measures

4.1 Wind tunnel configuration

1. Ground effect simulation

Metallic plaque installed in the wind tunnel 4. ExperimentalExperimental measurements measures

4.1 Wind tunnel configuration

1. Ground effect simulation

2. Design of the model cars

- Limitations on the scale inverted wing shape

- Needed to find information about the actual dimensions

- Fulfillment of the geometric, kinematic and dynamic similarities

- Employment of the same upper surface for both cars 4. ExperimentalExperimental measurements measures

4.1 Wind tunnel configuration

1. Ground effect simulation

2. Design of the model cars

- Limitations on the scale 2017 diffuser and flat bottom layout

- Needed to find information about the actual dimensions

- Fulfillment of the geometric, kinematic and dynamic similarities

- Employment of the same upper surface for both cars 4. ExperimentalExperimental measurements measures

4.1 Wind tunnel configuration

1. Ground effect simulation

2. Design of the model cars

3. Wind tunnel limitations

Scale Speed Vibrations

Only able to replicate 4 km/h of real speed 5. ObtainedObtained results results

5.1 Downforce

Downforce LOTUS 78 Downforce 2017 car 0,1

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 -0,1

-0,2 Lotus 78 shows a greater evolution -0,3

-0,4 2017 car generates a higher downforce for lower airspeeds

-0,5 Downforce (N) Downforce

-0,6

-0,7

-0,8 Air speed (m/s) 5. ObtainedObtained results results

5.2 Drag

Drag LOTUS 78 Drag 2017 car 1,8

1,6

1,4

1,2 Approximately the same drag force 1

0,8 Low influence of the bottom layout

Drag (N) Drag in the drag generation 0,6

0,4

0,2

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Air speed (m/s) 5. ObtainedObtained results results

5.3 Analysis of the results

Perform a comparison in terms of downforce generation

Better behavior of the LOTUS 79

Yes

Proved that the inverted wing configuration gives a greater downforce 5. ObtainedObtained results results

5.3 Analysis of the results

Perform a comparison in terms of downforce generation

Better behavior of the LOTUS 79

No

OVERSIZED DIFFUSER What happened with the results? 65.. ObtainedConclusions results

Different configurations of the bottom along the years

Improvements on the ways of generating downforce according to the imposed restrictions

The effect of the wing car can be replicated with an oversized diffuser and flat bottom configuration OVERSIZED DIFFUSER Thank you so much!

Jorge Arnedo García – [email protected] Miguel Andrés Masip – [email protected] Lucas Bernácer Soriano – [email protected] Francisco García Villanueva – [email protected]