RW air channeling conditioners

[Matt Somers]

Anyone with some more technical aero knowledge able to explain these slots of the outside edges of the RB8's rear wing?

[kebab]

The slot is to reduce pressure at that part of the wing in order to reduce drag.

I'm not an aerodynamicist though...

[THENOMAD79]

or amplify effective surface wing??

[Matt Somers]

I asked Scarbs on twitter too and his response was:

@SomersF1 it exploits the wing regs to have a three element section in the tricky flow area next to the endplate, ferrari do this too

I have also found a pic of the two cars side by side and they do both use it
[img]
http://f1zoom.co.cc/?year=2012&race=cat ... g=9&full=1[/img]

[markc]

I'm assuming you're not talking about the louvres in the end plates which allow high pressure air from wing to bleed, reducing drag and making the down force created more efficient. Link for explanation: http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/08/0 ... ur-trails/

I think you're talking about the fact that the rear wing doesn't fully extend to the end plates, stopping short with a gap before the end plate. I assume they're doing the same as Ferrari on the F150th and F2012 in that area:
F150th:
http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/ ... 9/888.html
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9209&start=1320

F2012:
http://www.f1technical.net/gallery/Ferr ... /rear-view

[markc]

I asked Scarbs on twitter too and his response was:

@SomersF1 it exploits the wing regs to have a three element section in the tricky flow area next to the endplate, ferrari do this too

I have also found a pic of the two cars side by side and they do both use it
[img]
http://f1zoom.co.cc/?year=2012&race=cat ... g=9&full=1[/img]

and you are
so, as far as I can tell Ferrari started it and RB have followed, can't see evidence of others following at the moment, will have to wait for FP or Q1 Aus, and pics to know for sure.

[Arunas]

Must find pics, saw same on Lotus.

[markc]

Must find pics, saw same on Lotus.

yes please Also huntin' hur hur hur hur (Elmer Fudd voice)

[markc]

looks like it could be, need higher res to be sure.

[Arunas]

https://public.sn2.livefilestore.com/y1 ... jpg?psid=1
this one must be better

[Matt Somers]

Lotus has indeed followed suit:



and Force India are too:

[Matt Somers]

Sauber's approach is different having only adopted the channel on the top wing plane but have an aggressive set of louvres in front of the channel:

[Matt Somers]

This all got me thinking about the use of these louvres and perhaps the ability to blow this area in a passive F duct style like has been discussed with the W Duct.

A crude picture below (used one of Scarb's diagrams and altered it)



Using the airbox (The same way the F Duct was used) directing flow into the beam wing and outwards to the endplates creating blown louvres.

Personally I have no idea the effect these blown louvres would have as I'm far from understanding everything Aero but perhaps you guys could help? Used in combination with the air flow channels I've mentioned already or even on a standard wing setup like McLaren use. More DF and better drag reduction via DRS could be achievable?

[PlatinumZealot]

I thought about that.. but it won't work for many reasons.. haha.