godlameroso wrote: ↑16 Feb 2022, 19:10
Big inlet little outlet, maybe they're trying to exploit the Meridth effect that was used on the P51D Mustang's radiators.
The only reason you would want a small inlet is if your body behind the inlet is limiting your size, i.e. you'd sacrifice external drag for getting the inlet larger. That does not seem to be the case with the sidepod designs, and Williams is the only team that seems to be fully aware of that tradeoff. The reason is that external diffusion of flow via blockage effects, using a generous inlet compared to the outlet, is much more efficient than internal diffusion through a diffuser combined with a small inlet. Also, with good pressure recovery, there can be some Meredith effect indeed, but the most important thing is that the air exiting the cooling outlet will be faster, and the outlet smaller if you get the pressure recovery sorted out well, which will help with getting more high energy air into the area of the rear wing and beam wing/diffuser.