Aerodynamics notes

[dnomdec]

Hi all,

I am new here. Nice to meet you all. So happy to see that there are so many ongoing discussions here, unlike some online forums I have previously run into.

I was wondering if anyone could guide me to some quick notes that gives an introduction to racecar aerodynamics / how to design wings for race cars, and notes that address questions like where to put the center of pressure, how to balance front and back downforce, etc..

Thank you very much!

dnomdec

[West]

Competition Car Downforce by Simon McBeath is a good book to pick up... it introduces you to the principles of some common aero parts.

Carroll Shelby's books are also often discussed when it comes to race cars.

Finally, Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Milliken father and son explains car behavior using physical models and equations. It is about 1000 pages long; I've only read around 300.

[miqi23]

Competition Car Downforce by Simon McBeath is a good book to pick up... it introduces you to the principles of some common aero parts.

Carroll Shelby's books are also often discussed when it comes to race cars.

Finally, Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Milliken father and son explains car behavior using physical models and equations. It is about 1000 pages long; I've only read around 300.

The latest one by Simon McBeath is Competition Car Aerodynamics.

[dnomdec]

Thanks for the reply guys! What is the difference between the "Competition Car Aerodynamics: A practical HANDBOOK" and "Competition Car Aerodynamics: A practical GUIDE"?

I am assuming the handbook contains a lot of classic data, while the guide is more like an intro text.

Also, I was wondering if how McBeath's book compare to Katz's (Race Car Aerodynamics).

Thx again!
dnomdec

[West]

The handbook is older and it's for people who have little to no idea how shapes produce downforce, yet are interested in ways to create downforce.
There is probably more emphasis on road cars, but I somehow lost the book and don't remember a lot of it... I suggest picking it up if you just started looking at car aero.

I never heard of the "Practical Guide" but it may be an updated version of the handbook. I haven't read Katz's book either, but when I was reading reviews on Amazon, it's more complex than McBeath's.

You might want to look here for some other books:

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/books.html

[syguy]

Competition Car Aerodynamics: A Practical Handbook, 2006, by Simon McBeath is current and heavy on the 'what', and Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed, 1995, Joseph Katz is a little dated and heavy on the 'why' - together priceless!

Read review

[AeroGT3]

Thanks for the reply guys! What is the difference between the "Competition Car Aerodynamics: A practical HANDBOOK" and "Competition Car Aerodynamics: A practical GUIDE"?

I am assuming the handbook contains a lot of classic data, while the guide is more like an intro text.

Also, I was wondering if how McBeath's book compare to Katz's (Race Car Aerodynamics).

Thx again!
dnomdec

Personally, I dislike McBeath's book. Katz is good for figuring out the basic conceptual functions of each component, and that's all you are really going to get without learning the theory.