Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
#f1 #formula1 #aerodynamics
Formula One - Aerodynamics update 4 - Rear wing design
For other aero updates:
- Part 1: youtu.be/PgogIbld-Ko
- Part 2: youtu.be/07ru0LfGl3c
- Part 3: youtu.be/HXVBs7JgUis
In this Aero update we wanted to reduce the drag on the car, possibly sacrificing some of the downforce. Most importantly, we want to increase the Lift/Drag ratio (or actually downforce to drag ratio), meaning a more efficient aero design.
The existing wing was a visual element, not optimized for aerodynamics, but still performed surprisingly well. But because it was a very aggressive one (high "exit" angle of attack for example) we saw some flow separation at the trailing edge as well as some problems around the side plates.
The new design was entirely designed by Luca, who also took input from other community members into account. This new design now has actual airfoils, again gurneys, side plates which do not flow into the lower wing, etc.
The results showed a 15% reduction in drag, at the cost of a 10% reduction in downforce - a reasonable trade-off. The flow around the rear wing is now much cleaner, with the following observations:
- Far less separation of the airflow (less red clouds in this visualization)
- Reduced low pressure area on the rear wheels due to proximity / shape of the rear wing
- Reduced performance of the lower wing, so here we may need to optimize
- Flow separation at the transition from the top wing (second element) to the side plate - this needs to be optimized
Another observation was that there is quite a lot of flow separation around the rear suspension, which was shaped as an airfoil (including a gurney) but isn't working properly. As this one feeds air to the rear wing, we'll have a look at optimizing this one.
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The AirShaper videos cover the basics of aerodynamics (aerodynamic drag, drag & lift coefficients, boundary layer theory, flow separation, reynolds number...), simulation aspects (computational fluid dynamics, CFD meshing, ...) and aerodynamic testing (wind tunnel testing, flow visualization, ...).
We then use those basics to explain the aerodynamics of (race) cars (aerodynamic efficiency of electric vehicles, aerodynamic drag, downforce, aero maps, formula one aerodynamics, ...), drones and airplanes (propellers, airfoils, electric aviation, eVTOLS, ...), motorcycles (wind buffeting, motogp aerodynamics, ...) and more!
For more information, visit airshaper.com
#f1 #formula1 #aerodynamics
Formula One - Aerodynamics update 4 - Rear wing design
For other aero updates:
- Part 1: youtu.be/PgogIbld-Ko
- Part 2: youtu.be/07ru0LfGl3c
- Part 3: youtu.be/HXVBs7JgUis
In this Aero update we wanted to reduce the drag on the car, possibly sacrificing some of the downforce. Most importantly, we want to increase the Lift/Drag ratio (or actually downforce to drag ratio), meaning a more efficient aero design.
The existing wing was a visual element, not optimized for aerodynamics, but still performed surprisingly well. But because it was a very aggressive one (high "exit" angle of attack for example) we saw some flow separation at the trailing edge as well as some problems around the side plates.
The new design was entirely designed by Luca, who also took input from other community members into account. This new design now has actual airfoils, again gurneys, side plates which do not flow into the lower wing, etc.
The results showed a 15% reduction in drag, at the cost of a 10% reduction in downforce - a reasonable trade-off. The flow around the rear wing is now much cleaner, with the following observations:
- Far less separation of the airflow (less red clouds in this visualization)
- Reduced low pressure area on the rear wheels due to proximity / shape of the rear wing
- Reduced performance of the lower wing, so here we may need to optimize
- Flow separation at the transition from the top wing (second element) to the side plate - this needs to be optimized
Another observation was that there is quite a lot of flow separation around the rear suspension, which was shaped as an airfoil (including a gurney) but isn't working properly. As this one feeds air to the rear wing, we'll have a look at optimizing this one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AirShaper videos cover the basics of aerodynamics (aerodynamic drag, drag & lift coefficients, boundary layer theory, flow separation, reynolds number...), simulation aspects (computational fluid dynamics, CFD meshing, ...) and aerodynamic testing (wind tunnel testing, flow visualization, ...).
We then use those basics to explain the aerodynamics of (race) cars (aerodynamic efficiency of electric vehicles, aerodynamic drag, downforce, aero maps, formula one aerodynamics, ...), drones and airplanes (propellers, airfoils, electric aviation, eVTOLS, ...), motorcycles (wind buffeting, motogp aerodynamics, ...) and more!
For more information, visit airshaper.com
