McLaren MP4-29 Mercedes

[JDC123]

Regarding the rear wing endplates. Why does the mp4-28 endplates curve back towards the rear of the car below the wing, whereas this year they are almost vertical?

[Pup]

I suspect they're trying to capture as best they can the pocket of air in front of the suspension.

[matt090290]

I think we could see some big changes in Mclarens butterfly before bahrain. Here's what I'm expecting

I believe this complies with both the symetry and the 10cm by 10cm rule."View image side on"
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/6whi2

[aleks_ader]

I think we could see some big changes in Mclarens butterfly before bahrain. Here's what I'm expecting
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/
I believe this complies with both the symetry and the 10cm by 10cm rule."View image side on"
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/6whi2

Sadly no. Remember 5 degrees angle plus aspect ratio and symetry....

[beelsebob]

I think we could see some big changes in Mclarens butterfly before bahrain. Here's what I'm expecting
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/
I believe this complies with both the symetry and the 10cm by 10cm rule."View image side on"
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/6whi2

What's the need for the lower wish bone having the bottom half of the diamond?

[Pup]

Sadly no. Remember 5 degrees angle plus aspect ratio and symetry....

Yes, but the symmetry and major axis don't have to be horizontal.

I think it's an interesting idea. I'm not sure that it works in plan view, however, at least not while keeping the members as close as possible to the diffuser edge. In plan, you have to be able to draw a straight line within the suspension member from start to finish. McLaren accomplish this by making the members very wide. If you change that axis, then you've lost the ability to "bend" the members to align to the diffuser.

Still interesting in it's own right, though.

[Pup]

What's the need for the lower wish bone having the bottom half of the diamond?

He's creating the bottom of the "wing" with it.

*edit* - I see what you're saying.

[Pup]

Developing the idea, perhaps something without the lower diamond is more "wing like". But it's a pretty lousy wing. I'm not sure it would fly, both figuratively and literally.



Still not convinced. I think McLaren are creating a much larger "wing" top cord with the pocket of air in front. And it's the bottom cord, or lack thereof, that's the problem.

[matt090290]

Getting around the 5 degree rule i think...
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/f3ntr

[Pup]

I can't get those images to load, and the second one is too small to make anything out of it from the thumbnail.

Try photobucket? http://photobucket.com

Actually, I'm going to change my tune on the 5° angle. After re-reading the regs, I think the major axis does have to run horizontally (within 5°)...

10.3.3 No major axis of a cross section of a suspension member, when assessed in accordance with Article 10.3.1, may subtend an angle greater than 5° to the reference plane when projected onto, and normal to, a vertical plane on the car centre line with the car set to the nominal design ride height.

[matt090290]

Major axis: The longest diameter of an ellipse.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/xee35
I really cant see why this wouldn't be allowed... please explain your reasoning?

[henra]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/j ... b4880b.jpg

Very interesting idea!
Me like.

Would probably be a better 'wing' than the current solution, while still appearing to be legal.

[Pup]

Major axis: The longest diameter of an ellipse.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/xee35
I really cant see why this wouldn't be allowed... please explain your reasoning?

The regs say the major axis has to be within 5° of the reference plain, which is horizontal. I was thinking that it just said the member itself, which would allow the major axis to be perpendicular to the reference plain, but apparently I was wrong about that.

So I don't think that either of your sketches work, nor does my variation (partially because the lower member in mine isn't symmetrical about it's major axis - oops). But the idea itself is worth pursuing I think - just has to be re-proportioned to work with a horizontal major axis for both members.

edit - I can see you've added a third version - no reason why that one wouldn't work as far as I can see.

[shady]

I posted this in the legality thread..



Make the lower arm spines of a diffuser, and the upper arm the floor/ceiling

'blow' it with the waste heat (its gotta go somewhere)

[Pup]

I'm not sure what you'd be accomplishing. There might be some aero benefit to placing strakes on the suspension, but they would have to conform to the same proportions and maximum dimensions as any other part of the suspension.

Plus you're not going to "blow" any of that with exhaust air from the engine compartment, since it's moving slower than the surrounding air.