Red Bull RB8 Renault

[mclaren777]

It could very well be an area where they wouldn't want debris getting to, but they feared that putting a shiny grille in front of it might draw unwanted attention to it.

I've known about that lower vent since the day the RB8 was first unveiled, so surely it's not a secret to their competitors.

(image from February 6th)

[Owen.C93]

And the RB7.

[forty-two]

And the RB7.

Are you saying that the RB7 had this under nose inlet also? If so, I don't remember seeing that but happy to but told otherwise.

[Owen.C93]

And the RB7.

Are you saying that the RB7 had this under nose inlet also? If so, I don't remember seeing that but happy to but told otherwise.

I can't find a slot from under the nose just yet, but it had the vents where it should be.

http://scarbsf1.files.wordpress.com/201 ... 050326.jpg

Credit to scarbsf1.

Edit: Ok here you can see the slot under the RB7 nose.

[forty-two]

Thanks Owen, I must have forgotten about that!

[bonjon1979]

I'm no engineer. Will someone please explain why woodgrains and wooden screws mean they'll be making forward steps overnight again?

It means they are constantly trying out new bits in search of better performance. Even outpacing their own production capabilities.

I've a feeling it's a legality thing, I seem to remember the hole for that pull rod being a lot bigger that allowed warm air fom radiator to mix with flow coming through that tunnel above he floor

[hardingfv32]

So, can we finally stop this whole "RB are putting the exhaust gases down the (out)side of the bridge at low speeds" thing now?

The majority of the exhaust is clearly not going there.

I agree with you. The flow goes straight back. This is clear visual evidence of it. Not the slightest indication of downward flow.

Brian

[bonjon1979]

See yellow circle

Cheers!

Now where the hell is that on this?!?:




If I'm seeing that top image right, thats at the diffuser ramp; which is at the rear-axle line isn't it?

Thats wayyy inboard of the wheel then - probably roughly directly backwards from the lower suspension front pickup point on the chassis.


That strake probably exists to ensure the exhaust flow doesn't mess up the diffuser centre/beam wing centre/rear wing centre.

You can just see it in this picture, pull rod arm goes in big hole that forms part of the tunnel over the floor, I suspect they've been told that's a no no.

EDIT you'll need to look back for this to make sense but I think the hurried manufactured wooden part was put in because they weren't allowed to get away with what is in the bottom picture here. The hole for the suspension am is built into the tunnel allowing hot air from radiators to mix with air in tunnel to go over diffuser, it appears red bull need some tinker time...

[volarchico]

Glad to see the letterbox slot debate is finally put to rest. Clear pictures of a hole going...well, somewhere? But at least we know it's not a air dam(n).

Anyone know where the lower slot goes? It seems to be bigger than the upper one by quite a bit. Even has a divider down the middle to split the flow side to side.

[PlatinumZealot]

Could the opening on top of the side pods be the exit for the slit on the nose? Maybe to improve airflow?

So, can we finally stop this whole "RB are putting the exhaust gases down the (out)side of the bridge at low speeds" thing now?

The majority of the exhaust is clearly not going there.

No. BEcause.. that is how the exhausts behave at high speed. Remember, the car is not only driving at one speed, but varying speeds at different points in time.

That is exactly how the exhaust behaves in my Coanda effect simulations when I set the car speed to 200mph. The momentum of the oncoming air turns to be the dominant effect. BUT the exhaust STILL goes down to the diffuser at lower speeds. I wish I could show you a picture of the simulation results at 200mph but I am at work now.

[CHT]

Surely the lower vent is at least as likely if not more, to have bits of debris flicked into it?

The lower vent doesn't have anything protecting it (so Webber surely filled it with grass yesterday) but it's more important to screen off the upper vent because you don't want rocks/debris getting into the pedal box or drive compartment.

How do you know that the upper vent lands in the pedal box? For all we know, it's being ducted somewhere to do something clever?

Similarly, we don't know where the exit for the bottom vent might be. It could very well be an area where they wouldn't want debris getting to, but they feared that putting a shiny grille in front of it might draw unwanted attention to it.

Or maybe the top and bottom vents are dead ends to draw all our eyes away from the enormous vacuum cleaner they have attached to the floor of the car, or whatever other tricks they might have up their sleeves.

all driver cooling hole will have such wire mesh to prevent debris from flying into the cockpit. At over 300km/h, debris will hit you like bullet.

[CHT]

btw is Vettel's latest slut call Abbey?

[forty-two]

Glad to see the letterbox slot debate is finally put to rest. Clear pictures of a hole going...well, somewhere? But at least we know it's not a air dam(n).

I don't think we can make any such assertions. We can see what looks like an intake, but we don't know if it goes anywhere. Half an inch into that could in theory be a dead end.

[forty-two]

How do you know that the upper vent lands in the pedal box? For all we know, it's being ducted somewhere to do something clever?

Similarly, we don't know where the exit for the bottom vent might be. It could very well be an area where they wouldn't want debris getting to, but they feared that putting a shiny grille in front of it might draw unwanted attention to it.

Or maybe the top and bottom vents are dead ends to draw all our eyes away from the enormous vacuum cleaner they have attached to the floor of the car, or whatever other tricks they might have up their sleeves.

all driver cooling hole will have such wire mesh to prevent debris from flying into the cockpit. At over 300km/h, debris will hit you like bullet.

I agree that IF it's for driver cooling it would be sensible to shield it like this, but I don't know if taking the "It's for Driver Cooling" comment at face value is necessarily a good idea.

[CHT]

How do you know that the upper vent lands in the pedal box? For all we know, it's being ducted somewhere to do something clever?

Similarly, we don't know where the exit for the bottom vent might be. It could very well be an area where they wouldn't want debris getting to, but they feared that putting a shiny grille in front of it might draw unwanted attention to it.

Or maybe the top and bottom vents are dead ends to draw all our eyes away from the enormous vacuum cleaner they have attached to the floor of the car, or whatever other tricks they might have up their sleeves.

all driver cooling hole will have such wire mesh to prevent debris from flying into the cockpit. At over 300km/h, debris will hit you like bullet.

I agree that IF it's for driver cooling it would be sensible to shield it like this, but I don't know if taking the "It's for Driver Cooling" comment at face value is necessarily a good idea.

I read it could be use for both driver and suspension cooling. As for channeling the air somewhere else for aero purpose, I am doubtful because incoming air will lose a great deal of velocity the moment it hit the wire mesh.