Race Car Aerodynamics - KTH

1 Race Car AerodynamicsKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyStockholm May 21st, 2010 Corrado CASIRAGHIT atuus RacingRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGO Historic overview Race car categories aerodynamic and performance aerodynamic tools Validation: CFD, Wind Tunnel, Track TestContentsRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOH istoric overview First steps Drag reduction: fast circuits, low power engines1916: Indianapolis 5001915: Indianapolis 500 Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOH istoric overview Race car evolution Downforce research: tire and engine technology are improved1966: Chaparral-2E1965: Chaparral-2 CRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOH istoric overview Race Car Evolution Extreme solution: adjustable wings, suction fans1966: Chaparral-2J (Sucker car)1968: Lotus Type 49 Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOH istoric overview Race Car Evolution Wing cars.

2 Reversed wing underbody and sealing skirts1977: Lotus type 781977: Lotus type 78 Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOH istoric overview Race Car Evolution Modern era: flat and stepped underbody1983: McLaren MP4-1C2004: Jordan stepped underfloorRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOH istoric overview Sports Car Apex of efficiency1999: Mercedes CLR1999: Toyota GT-One1999: BMW-LMR1999: Audi R8 RRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOH istoric overview Sports Car Safety problems1999: Mercedes CLR1998: Porsche GT1 Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGORace car categories Sedan-based race cars WTCC, Rally, Nascar,etc.

3 Enhancements in stiffness and safety (roll-cage), minimum aerodynamic modificationsRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGORace car categories Enclosed Wheel race cars LeMans Prototypes LMP1, Free shapes, regulated underbody and complex wingsRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGORace car categories Open Wheel race cars F1, GP2, F3, etc. Single seater, streamlined body, massive use of aerodynamic appendagesRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance aerodynamic forces are depending by the body shape and velocity F = v2 SCF Fx = D = v2 SCx Fz = L = v2 SCzRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance Drag Drag reduction is not commonly the main target of top race car aerodynamic optimisation Drag reduction is still an important factor for low power vehicles (F3.)

4 Electric/solar cars)10011012013014015016017018019020021 0220230240250260020406080100120140160180 200 PowerTop speedDrag [ ]Drag [ ]Power [HP]Speed [kmh]Power [HP]Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance Downforce Vehicle stability and handling are primarily dictated by tyre performance, but this performance is considerably related to aerodynamic loads, optimal loading of the tyres by the control of front and rear downforce can lead to: Improved braking performance Increased cornering speed Stability (necessary to achieve cornering speed)Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGO010020030040050060070001002003004005 00600700 Cornering ForceLoad (daN)Cornering force (daN) aerodynamic and performance Downforce and grip The tyre can transfer a force through its contact that is a function of the vertical load (linear) In the normal range of use it can be assumed.

5 Fx,y = FzRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance Braking performance Increased downforce reduces braking space 501001502002503000,050,0100,0150,0200,02 50,00,001,002,003,004,005,006,007,00 Brakings1 [m] (Scz:0)s2 [m] ( )t1 [s] (Scz:0)t2 [s] ( )Speed [km/h]Space [m]Braking distance to stop and braking timeversus initial speed with and without downforceRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance Cornering Speed Steady-state turning leads to forces on the tyres which increase with downforce and to centrifugal forces which increase with cornering speedMaximum speed and cornering time (90 corner)

6 Versus track curvature R with and without downforce0204060801001201401601802000,05 0,0100,0150,0200,0250,0300,0350,00,001,0 02,003,004,005,006,007,00 Cornering speedVmax [km/h] (Scz:0)Vmax [km/h] ( )t [s] (Scz:0)t [s] ( )Corner Radius [m]Speed [km/h]Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance Stability A: Centre of pressure (CP) ahead of Centre of Gravity (CG) Any lateral irregularity (bump, wind gust) will cause an initial side slip that tends to generate an aerodynamic side force that tend to increase the side slip, unstable without driver correction.

7 B: CP behind CG Unlike most road cars, race cars have their CP behind the CG in order to have a good lateral stability at high speeds where aerodynamic forces are Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance Stability A: Low-speed (negligible lift) vehicle with side slip angle due to lateral force (wind or centrifugal) The side force created by tyres is proportional to the normal load, proportional to the weight on the front (Wf) and rear (Wr) axles. If the moment about the CG created by the rear tyres exceeds that created by the front tyres, such that the net moment tends to rotate the car in the direction of slip, then there is understeer (Stable).

8 B: High-speed (significant lift) vehicle with side slip angle Here the downforce is generated at the front and there is some rear positive lift (typical of some production cars) If the moment about the CG created by the front tyres exceeds the rear tyre moment, such that the net moment tends to turn the car away from the side slip direction, then there is oversteer and possible vehicle spin (Unstable).Race Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic and performance Lap-time In racing top speed is often not relevant and each track requires different aerodynamic settings: High speed track with serious accelerations and sharp corners ( Monza) requires low drag/low downforce setting High speed track with fast corners ( Barcelona, Spa) requires high downforce setting The overall lap-time is a result of corner, braking and top speed.

9 Due to the modern circuit layout most of the lap-time is spent in acceleration, deceleration, cornering, so downforce plays a greatest part than pure efficiencyRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic Tools Regulations Regulations are the most relevant limitation to aerodynamic design in race carsRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic Tools Most relevant items Body Wings / Endplates Splitter / Spoiler Appendages (barge boards, strakes, chimneys, vortex generators) WheelsRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic Tools Body Bodyworks and particularly underfloor are the most powerful aerodynamic devices Underfloor works as a Venturi in ground effectRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic Tools Body Regulations ban underfloor shaped as an inverted wing (floor must be flat between axles)

10 But allows a rear diffuser that massively affects the pressure under the vehicle An extreme interpretation of regulations allowed in 2009 the introduction of double deck underfloorRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic Tools Wings Wings are the most efficient aerodynamic device Open wheeled rear wings have a very small aspect ratio Wings are installed far-forward far-after to enhance their balancing effectRace Car Aerodynamics - May 21st, 2010 Company LOGOA erodynamic Tools Wings Race car wings are designed to heavily interact with the surrounding bodies: the rear bottom wing works in symbiosis with the underfloor diffu