Bonnet Vents: On The Search for Front Downforce nelson phillips 2024-04-21 | A basic outline of the CFD problem space for venting he engine bay with bonnet vents. It turns out that for a production car using the Super Touring solution of corner vents are a better. However The bonnet vents are directly ducted to the radiator. This would be the next attempt at a solution to provide more downforce for this hillclimb model.
Review of 2022-2025 F1 Aerodynamics: Part 1 the floor. nelson phillips 2026-05-29 | Review of the 2022-2025 formula one aero regulations. Mapping the aerodynamics revealed that the floor is susceptible to changes of yaw with reduction of downforce but also centre of pressure.
Williams FW13b : A Deep Deep Dive Into Diffusers nelson phillips 2026-04-12 | Deep dive into how diffusers work and why they are one of the most important aerodynamic components. Using the Williams FW13b as the model, two substantially different differs were run in CFD to show how impactful different fluidic components impact performance.
PRESSURE SENSOR KIT Part 2: Aerodynamics in the Wild nelson phillips 2026-03-10 | This video is about a kit designed to measure the air pressure over the surface of a moving car. Specifically for modified surfaces that produce aerodynamic downforce. The idea is for people that modify their own racecars to map how air moves around the car. By placing tube around the car the air pressure can be measure by the sensors provided in the kit. The kit is intended to provide everything that is needed to start experimenting with aerodynamics of a car. It has two distinct components that allows different levels of analysis. First forms the basic functions and can function as a stand alone kit. Then the second builds off the basic kit with digital connectors which more components can be added for advanced functions.Store link:tindie.com/products/nelson_phillips/presure-sensor-kit-basicDocumentation:hackaday.io/project/203749-air-pressure-sensor-kit
Front Wing Details of the Ferrari 641/2 nelson phillips 2026-02-22 | Formula one of the 1990's was a period where aerodynamic ideas were establishing themselves. Among the innovations were front wing details and how a front wing interacted with the front wheel. This video takes two of the idea that establish themselves and analyzed using CFD.
Pressure Measurement Kit: Part 1 prototyping nelson phillips 2025-05-03 | This video goes through the design of a pressure sensor kit for racecars. Aimed at the amateur racer it is intended to provide a method of testing aero devices at a pressure field level.
Introduction to Splitters: Partnering with Kyatchi Carbon. nelson phillips 2025-03-26 | In partnership with Kyatchi Carbon I helped develop a high end splitter using a nice trick. According to publicly available information this is one of the highest, if not the highest downforce splitters you can directly buy. This video builds up the knowledge of splitters to understand how this is such a high performance splitter.Kyatchi Carbon:http://kyatchicarbon.com.au/
CFD of an Average Sedan nelson phillips 2024-11-03 | The drivAer model was built for the purpose of aerodynamic validation from windtunnel data to CFD. This video is an introduction of this model through running the fastback, notchback and estate versions. It also is a look at how errors a expressed in this type of experimentation.
Introduction to Transient Simulations nelson phillips 2024-10-06 | Introduction to transient CFD simulations using LES. This video aims to give a guide to how LES simulations can be used to analyse fluid. As opposed to steady state simulation they offer a greater depth of understanding at significant computational cost.
Removing Lift from the Front nelson phillips 2024-08-21 | This video focusses on removing the front lift caused by the shape of the bonnets leading edge. In total about 80% improvement in front downforce.
Aerodynamic Analysis in CFD for the Economics of Speed nelson phillips 2024-07-28 | Aerodynamic drag cost power at the cube of velocity. Lowering drag means that traveling at a certain speed will cost less in almost every way. Cars and vehicles that everybody drives aren't optimised to lower the cost of speed. This video analyses the influences that aesthetic cost of speed that is apparent when participating in the consumer car market.
FORMULA ONE Rear Wings: a very specific video. nelson phillips 2024-05-30 | The rear wing since the new regulations set was introduced has been an area which there has been a significant amount of diversity. Particularly around the junction between the main plain and second element. This CFD analysis focuses on this junction area pulling out the main themes and extracting surface forces.
Meyer Manx Dune Buggy Aerodynamic CFD Analysis nelson phillips 2024-03-23 | The Meyers Manx Dune Buggy shaped popular culture bridging the divide between the urban and the offroad. Applying boat building technology in the fibreglass body it was a lightweight car that offer surprising performance from a 40hp VW engine. This CFD analysis of its aerodynamics paint a story that I found necessary to improve.
Modifying the Floor nelson phillips 2024-02-26 | After change the radiator to a more accurate geometry basic floor modification were made. The result was a decent increase in downforce. The openFoam simulation series is a continuation of a Hillclimb aerodynamics build. At this stage is is a has a cla = -0.3, but it is is starting from a body shape that has a high lift value. This Mk1/Mk2 Golf GTi has a generally bad aerodynamic characteristic with particularly high lift values at the front. Achieving no lift at the front means that 300N @30m/s is produced by the splitter, which is equivalent to a cla=-0.5.....
Wings on a Hatchback nelson phillips 2024-01-04 | Pushing the concept of a wing on a hatchback a little further. It just confirms that this a robust concept capable of producing a decent amount of downforce.
Aerodynamics of a Camper Trailer Through CFD nelson phillips 2023-10-19 | Something a bit different. Following of from my hatchback model studies in CFD, this camper trailer suffered from a similar characteristic. At the rear there is significant drag caused by the lift through the idea of induced drag. Placing a flap or spoiler at the rear reduced the drag by a large 13%. Further modifications managed to produce a drag reduction of 30-35%. There is probably a little more left in it but this is the bulk of it.
Hatchback Aerodynamics: Improving the rear wing or spoiler nelson phillips 2023-10-03 | This video further developments the Golf GTi's aerodynamics by adding a rear element that increase the downforce for a wing. This video contributes to the understanding of hatchback aerodynamics that the general public lack. Rear wings aren't by themselves a great idea for hatchbacks because they aren't supplied with sufficient clean air flow. Adding a spoiler under the wing dramatically increases the effectiveness of the wing and the overall performance of the vehicle.
Wheel Arch Modifications nelson phillips 2023-09-13 | Using the Golf GTi mkII model the extract wheel arches where modified to increase downforce. The aerodynamic performance increase was modest but there. Changes were most because the extra wide wheel arches, due to Hillclimb modification, removing lift. Addition benefits can from reducing the interaction between the bonnet or hood and the side of thecar.
European Hillclimb Hatchback Aerodynamic nelson phillips 2023-08-11 | Using a common 1980's hatchback, this video will first of a series analysing the aerodynamics of cars seen on the European hillclimb scene. The model as a baseline is remarkably poor with a lift to drag ratio of positive one.
Finding the Centre of Gravity of a Formula One Car nelson phillips 2023-07-05 | Taking images of the cars suspended by the cranes at Monaco the Centre of Gravity, CoG can be found. The Mercedes is a particularly good candidate for this as the angle in which it hung was relatively high. If the angle was lower, like all the other teams, a line intersecting the CoG would have a small horizontal component. With the angle of the Mercedes above 30 degrees it has a reasonable horizontal component so we can get a good estimate of the height of the CoG. From the ground it is a bit above the axles at 370mm.
Formula 1 Suspension Aerodynamics nelson phillips 2023-06-22 | Since the mid nineties the aerodynamics of the suspension was more related to drag reduction. However the Tyrrell 024 represented a step change in thinking. From then on the front suspension was considered more and more important for its aerodynamic function and less so for its vehicle dynamics.This video analyses how much the role of aerodynamic bodywork over the actual suspension arms has on the rest of the car. Building on previous CFD experiment in other videos here the result was a 11.5% improvment in downforce of the rear wing.
F1 car CFD: adding bits and pieces nelson phillips 2023-05-07 | A CFD analysis of an assortment of modifications to a F1 car model.Bits include, the diffuser, side floor, front wing and bottom trailing suspension arm interface.OpenFoamAMR 70million cells 45m/s
Overview of the Formula One Aerodynamics Post Testing 2023 nelson phillips 2023-03-04 | An overview of post testing aerodynamics has many guessing how each team have played the regulations for the second year of these cars. The simplification of the bodywork geometry has meant the large resources available to teams have had them try conditioning air in subtle ways. This video goes through the things I find interesting and why I find them interesting.
Defining Drag as Information Theory nelson phillips 2023-01-15 | Drag on a racecar is largely considered a lower priority than downforce. The drag budget is usually determined by engine power and the percentage of full throttle in a lap, which would mean lower drag is required for less available power. Reducing drag can be most similarly thought of in terms of weight reduction, applied through small incremental improvements. However identifying drag is probably more difficult than both downforce and weight improvements.This video will go through the principles of drag in terms of information theory and apply them to the results of Airshapers latest version of their formula 1 model. So what contributes to a cars drag?We’ll start with the drag force equation. Where the drag force is equal to half the coefficient of drag multiplied to the air density, frontal area and velocity squared.The only parameters we have control over | are, the frontal area and that magical coefficient number | that condenses all the other aerodynamic properties into one non dimensional number. As the frontal area cannot really be altered that much | as it space is dominated by the chassis, wheels and wings. Out of each of these elements the rear wing becomes the only part of the car that is tunable for drag reduction. The frontal area of the wing can change according to whether the car is running at a low or high speed track, DRS applies this concept changing the second elements angle. A decease in the wing increases top speed at the expense of downforce and cornering speeds. Therefore, if most of the frontal area is set and so inflexible | we are going to need to dig into that magical coefficient to reduce the drag.Its pretty interesting that the complexity of a formula one cars aerodynamic drag can be reduce to this number. There isn’t really any clues given as to how to reduce this number | as its non dimensional. Its just pure information, as such we are going to need to map this information onto something. Obviously the information is bound to how the air flows over, under and around the car. Airshaper includes this scale in their report, illustrating how the drag coefficient changes relative to tested objects. Apparent is that adding complexity tends to result in a higher number, for example an exposed person on a bike relative to person inside a cabin. Then the of value 0.91 is for this car | with all its downforce creating bits can be compared to a generic truck. But then | the truck has a much larger frontal area, and that would mean it is more likely to require more power to maintain an equivalent speed.So now we have the first important idea, complexity. A basic introduction into information theory will show how this idea sits in the theoretical context. For information theory has an idea | entropy as a probability measure of complexity, this is derived from Ludwig Boltzmann’s entropy in thermodynamics (kg⋅m2⋅s−2⋅K−1 ) but the non dimension or more general version. For thermodynamics and its second law, the concept states that energy tends to flow from high temperature to low, that is from low entropy to high. Boltzmann’s entropy formula is the probabilistic definition of this equation based off the number of states, in his case corresponding to how an ideal gas reaches equilibrium. Information, as derived initially by Shannon using the general non dimensional version of Boltzmann entropy, is the quantifiable amount present relative to an event, high probability events have low informational content. Information entropy expands on this and is the information of a random random variable that can be used to understand how frequently a measurement needs to occur to represent a signal or in this case a geometry. That is, a low entropy geometry will have a lower probability of being represented because features are less likely to be captured. To put it another way, a complex geometry has low entropy and will have a higher probability of being represented through a larger number of random samples. Its basically increasing the poly count of your model for CFD meshing. All this means is that the objects drag coefficient has a corollary to the entropy of that objects geometry. However, this isn’t enough to definitively conclude information depicted this way is the reason an objects specific coefficient needs that amount of energy to push through the air.But, we can say based on information theory and the notion of entropy there is a suggestion, reducing the complexity of the model will reduce the coefficient. Obviously there is more to it than that | because also indicated on this scale, there is the appearance of simpler shapes with values higher than one thats more complex. For example there wouldn’t be many that would say the sphere is more complex than the teardrop shape. So is it actually the complexity of the shape or the only other thing, the fluid? Well it can only be the other thing.The rest is in the comments.
Analysis of a Professionals CFD Case. nelson phillips 2022-11-30 | This is the second CFD case AIrshaper released to the public for analysis. It was a substantial improvement on their initial run with downforce increasing to a cl = -2.496 from -1.523. Link to Airshapers release video: airshaper.com/f1-aerodynamics-challenge#aero-update1
Analysis of AIRSHAPERS F1 Car Model nelson phillips 2022-10-29 | This video takes the publicly available Airshaper model and results, analysing them in Paraview.
Formula1 Front Wings and Physics: That mystery vortex. nelson phillips 2022-10-13 | The is a prominent vortex coming off the front wings of the 2022 Formula One car. This video explains the physics of the this vortex and why it is different to what has been seen before. The simulations aren't really helpful other than illustrating that there is a vortex.
Aerodynamics of a Production Car Floor nelson phillips 2022-08-21 | This video is analysis of the floor of a Suzuki GTi. Being a car from the 1980's considerations to the total vehicles aerodynamics was minimal. Performance improvements therefore take few modifications.
F1 Aero: Making the Floor Work. nelson phillips 2022-07-30 | This video takes steps to make the floor of the ground effects Formula One cars.
Formula 1 2022 Aerodynamics: Floor Fences nelson phillips 2022-06-19 | Adding floor fences to the 2022 f1 cars gives a significant performance boost. They essentially act like underfloor wings producing downforce in their own right. As a result of them acting as a wing they also produce a strong vortex structure that connect the front and rear of the floor.
Introduction to the 2022 Formula One Cars Aerodynamics nelson phillips 2022-05-26 | This is a basic guide to the 2022 F1 cars aerodynamic regulations. With a dramatic regulation change for this years cars their aerodynamic have been heavily effected. Initially consider highly restrictive teams have released cars that have been mostly very unique. This video picks out a few of the key regions of development and illustrates why they are important through the use of CFD.
Tyrrell 019: Reverse Engineering its Wings. nelson phillips 2022-05-14 | (45m/s) This is my attempt at reverse engineering the Tyrrell 019 front and rear wings. Using data from a Gascoyne paper I tried to replicate the downforce number presented.
Production Car Aerodynamics: Spoiler Vs Wing nelson phillips 2022-04-04 | (air=30m/s) Is a spoiler on a hatchback better than a rear wing for motorsports use? This video analyses the aerodynamics of a hatchback to see which device offers the highest downforce. A spoiler works by creating downforce by lowering the air pressure under the floor. Wings tend to work as independent devices.
Tyrrell 019: Study of the raised nose concept in CFD nelson phillips 2022-03-20 | (45m/s) This video is a continued look at historic Formula One cars in CFD. The Tyrrell 019 is a pioneering car and was to set the precedent for the raised nose concept that become standard just years later. A step improvement on the conventional concept it has a fundamental effect on the performance of the cars floor. As a result the aerodynamic improvement to the body is such it increases its downforce by 30%.
Modifying Aerodynamics of a Production Car for Motorsports. nelson phillips 2022-02-26 | (30m/s)This video take a production spec Suzuki Swift GTi and adds aerodynamic modifications to it for the purpose of competing in motorsports. Modifications to the front and rear Changed the lift characteristic such that rather than producing net lift, it now has significant downforce.Racing series this Suzuki GTi is aimed at is the IPRA Australia (Improved Production car Racing Association), SCCA for the USA and hot hatches in the UK. Air speed 30m/sopenfoam v2106SimpleFOAMkOmegaSSTairshapers AMRThank flickr.com/photos/robdunckley for making his photos accessible. Give this man a hung.
Aerodynamics for Motorsport: endplates & finite wings nelson phillips 2022-02-12 | Designing a wing can be as simple as choosing a wing profile. This video goes through the level of design methods required to design a single element finite wing with end plates.
Aerodynamics for Motorsports: wing profiles. nelson phillips 2022-02-03 | Digging into the fundamental theories of how downforce is created. Focusing on the wings profile is the first step in putting a wing on a racecar.
A cockatoo thought it would help me with a puzzle I was working on.... nelson phillips 2022-01-06 | ...
Aerodynamic analysis of dirty cars that I live near. nelson phillips 2021-12-08 | This analysis focuses on slots found on rear spoilers, specifically on the Ford Focus and Fiesta ST versions. Thinking that because they appear on the performance edition they would correspondingly add to the aerodynamics.All the good photos are from Wikipedia.All the dirty cars live around me and I don't know the owner.referenced paper: Kiyoshi Yamane, Nobutoshi Hase, Sadao Fujita, Ryouji Isomura, and Ikuya Takeda & Keiji Sumitani and Toshiyuki Murayama. Concurrent CFD Analysis for Developmentof Rear Spoiler for Hatchback Vehicles. SAE TECHNICAL PAPER SERIES 970410. international Congress & Exposition Detroit, Michigan _ . , Detroit, Michigan February 24-27, 1997.OpenFoam v2106 is the CFD software.using:kOmegaSSTSIMPLEFOAM30m/s air speed9 million AMR mesh
Production Car Aerodynamic Analysis and Development Using CFD: Part 2 nelson phillips 2021-11-22 | (Air speed: 30m/s)This video is part 2 of a series using a generic hatchback, modeled on the Suzuki Swift GTi, for aerodynamic analysis and developments. This video builds on the GTi body kit adding a gurney flap to the spoiler and then removing some rear bumper. These modifications increase the aerodynamic performance of this model almost completely removing lift from the body.Using openFoam v2106 Adaptive Mesh Refinement is utilised from a process developed by Airshaper.github.com/airshaper/adaptive-mesh-refinementA wiki for this process is available here..wiki.openfoam.com/Adaptive_Mesh_Refinement_by_Air_ShaperAir speed: 30m/sTurbulence models: kOmegaSSTSimpleFoamRASMesh: 9 million
Production Car Aerodynamic Analysis and Development Using CFD: Part 1 nelson phillips 2021-11-07 | This video is part 1 of a series using a generic hatchback, modeled on the Suzuki Swift GTi, for aerodynamic analysis and developments. In each subsequent video developments will be made and tested. Over time these developments will become more and more significant for performance.Using openFoam v2106 Adaptive Mesh Refinement is utilised from a process developed by Airshaper.github.com/airshaper/adaptive-mesh-refinementA wiki for this process is available here..wiki.openfoam.com/Adaptive_Mesh_Refinement_by_Air_ShaperAir speed: 30m/sTurbulence models: kOmegaSSTSimpleFoamRASMesh: 9 millionAhmed bluff body reference: Some Salient Features of the Time -Averaged Ground Vehicle Wake. S. R. Ahmed, G. Rammand G. Faltin. SAE Transactions , 1984, Vol. 93, Section 2
Formula One in 1990: Leyton House CG901 nelson phillips 2021-10-24 | This video introduces the first car of a series from 1990, the Leyton House CG901. This car saw Adrian Newey overcome struggles with the under floor aerodynamics. This video uses CFD to draw deeper understanding of diffusers and the problem Newey faced with his designs.Software: openFoam8SimpleFoamSSTkOmegaApproximate cell no. 71milFirst image: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leyton_House_CG901_Formula_One,_1990_-_Collings_Foundation_-_Massachusetts_-_DSC07049.jpgcommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Daderot Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain DedicationSecond image: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leyton_House_CG901_Goodwood_Festival_of_Speed_2009.jpgCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Introduction to Formula One in 1990 nelson phillips 2021-10-14 | The year 1990 is one of the most interesting and diverse formula one season. It was a year that helped shape the follow 30 years of formula one. The teams and personnel were becoming established, only in recent years these have started to change.
A CFD Analysis of a Historic Formula One Car: March 881 nelson phillips 2021-04-19 | Now with audio.....(air speed 50m/s)The March 881 was the first Formula 1 car designed by Adrian Newey. It was a ground breaking car in a number of ways. This CFD analysis aim to identify how the aerodynamic innovations this car was carrying can be represented. Aerodynamically this car compares favorably to the McLaren MP4/4 which it competed against during the 1988 season. Overall the lift to drag ratio for the 881 was better than 3, were as the MP4/4 was about 2.5.March 881 diffuser image is from: flickr.com/photos/bengphotos/16225204700 Software: OpenFoamNO. of Cells: 67milTurbulence Model: kOmegaSSTAir speed: 50m/s
A CFD Analysis of a Historic Formula One Car: McLaren MP4/4 nelson phillips 2021-03-17 | (air speed: 50m/s)This video is the forth of a continuing series that analyse historic F1 cars with Computational Fluid Dynamics. This study of the McLaren MP4/4 builds upon the previous videos of the the BrabhamBT52 and McLaren MP4/2 . This McLaren is the most dominate car in Formula One history winning 15/16 races during 1988 giving eight to Ayrton Senna and his first World Drivers Championship.This particular study analyses the effects of ride height relative to downforce levels. The McLaren MP4/4 ran a developed diffuser which is much more sensitive to ride heights than its predecessors. Software: OpenFoamNumerical model: SimpleFoamTurbulence model: kOmegaSSTOther models include:March 881/891Ferrari 641
A CFD Analysis of a Historic Formula One Car: McLaren MP4/2B & C (2/2) nelson phillips 2021-02-12 | This video is the third of a continuing series that analyse historic F1 car with Computational Fluid Dynamics. This study of the McLaren MP4/2B & C builds upon the previous video of the the 1984 McLaren MP4/2. This McLaren added two consecutive world drivers championships in 1985-6 to the one gained in 1984.This particular study analyses effective changes to the diffuser and windshield that provided surprising results. Other model include:McLaren MP4/4March 881/891Ferrari 641Software: OpenFoam, ParaviewNumerical model: RANS, SIMPLETurbulence model: SSTkOmegaBoundary conditionsRide height: 60mm Air, ground velocity: 50m/sNonslip wall functions: ground, wheels, front wing, rear wing, bodyInlet: exhaust x2Outlet: air intakes x2Slip wall functions: outer walls x3Two images of the McLaren MP4/2 are CC licence:McLaren MP4/2 TAG Porsche turbo right profile/ diffuser/ front right: Bill Abbott flickr.com/people/9998127@N06Michael Barera : A 1986 McLaren TAG MP 4/2 C Formel 1 inside the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg (Germany).
