Lotus E23 Mercedes

[Morteza]

Malaysian GP - Thursday

























Via AMuS

[chuckdanny]

I didn't know they use golf ball dimples on the top of sidepods, i heard about it of course, it's to prevent or delay separation but never saw it

[timbo]

I didn't know they use golf ball dimples on the top of sidepods, i heard about it of course, it's to prevent or delay separation but never saw it

http://img3.auto-motor-und-sport.de/GP- ... 853047.jpg

Maybe it's just a different (perhaps lighter) carbon fiber weave? Not everything has to be aero related.

[Thefuelman]

I didn't know they use golf ball dimples on the top of sidepods, i heard about it of course, it's to prevent or delay separation but never saw it

http://img3.auto-motor-und-sport.de/GP- ... 853047.jpg

Maybe it's just a different (perhaps lighter) carbon fiber weave? Not everything has to be aero related.

I remeber something about this from back in the 90's. some team in '96 wanted to do it, Tyrell I think because they were so down on HP from the Yamaha engine and the FIA very quickly put a stop to it because nobody wanted ugly dimpled cars. Maybe its just a hastily repaired panel on pastors car after his crash in Australia or just a bad finish?

[Tim.Wright]

That type of finish occurs when you pull too much resin out of the laminate during the cure cycle. The fibres close to the mould surface become almost dry of resin and you get a patterned texture in the shape of the weave.

I assume that they didn't have the time or the inclination to fill it before painting it.

It can be fixed in subsequent parts by changing the vacuum bagging assembly, the clave pressure or even changing the material but it doesn't make sense to scrap a non structural part because of a bad surface finish. The aero effect I'm sure is negligible.

[chuckdanny]

Well every part in contact with air has to do with aero but ok it could just be that it doesn't change much aero caracteritics.
A piece of wood, balsa or something found on the way. They are so much in need of money. Maybe it's recycled coffee plastic cup .

Last year they tried asymetrical things and even a real quit big bump on the roof, being so much behind the E22 was a real laboratory.

[WBF1]

There is a possibility that particular part was not post cured to a high enough temperature. The other components around the sidepods are all smooth.

If laminates are exposed to higher temperatures than the post cure temp the resin can soften and start to "flow" exposing the laminate pattern (print through). Dark colours are more prone to this, and the part in question I believe would be in the vicinity of one of the radiators.

[outer_bongolia]

I assume that they didn't have the time or the inclination to fill it before painting it.

What's the point of fixing dents in Pastor's car anyway?

[3jawchuck]

There is a possibility that particular part was not post cured to a high enough temperature. The other components around the sidepods are all smooth.

If laminates are exposed to higher temperatures than the post cure temp the resin can soften and start to "flow" exposing the laminate pattern (print through). Dark colours are more prone to this, and the part in question I believe would be in the vicinity of one of the radiators.

Could Maldonado's bodywork incident in FP2 be caused by this?

[joetoml1n]

There is a possibility that particular part was not post cured to a high enough temperature. The other components around the sidepods are all smooth.

If laminates are exposed to higher temperatures than the post cure temp the resin can soften and start to "flow" exposing the laminate pattern (print through). Dark colours are more prone to this, and the part in question I believe would be in the vicinity of one of the radiators.

Could Maldonado's bodywork incident in FP2 be caused by this?

Doutful!
Also, in the set of pics that contains the one of the bodywork you're refering to; you can see it is car #8 - Grosjean

[3jawchuck]

There is a possibility that particular part was not post cured to a high enough temperature. The other components around the sidepods are all smooth.

If laminates are exposed to higher temperatures than the post cure temp the resin can soften and start to "flow" exposing the laminate pattern (print through). Dark colours are more prone to this, and the part in question I believe would be in the vicinity of one of the radiators.

Could Maldonado's bodywork incident in FP2 be caused by this?

Doutful!
Also, in the set of pics that contains the one of the bodywork you're refering to; you can see it is car #8 - Grosjean

OK Thanks.
As for which car it is, I was just assuming they are both made in the same way and if any weakness in the process existed it would be present in both.

[AlainProst]

Have they changed something since last race in Australia aerodynamically ?

I don't see anything of difference but I may be wrong...

[R_Redding]

There is a possibility that particular part was not post cured to a high enough temperature. The other components around the sidepods are all smooth..

It looks like the mold or former has not been " gel coated" before the fibres were applied.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelcoat

Gelcoat is used to smooth the surface so it does not give a raw or mild "orange peel" look and feel.

Rob

[AnthonyG]

I read something about Maldonado driving around with bodywork off/loose. Anyone has pictures of that?

[Richard]

Sponsor conversations are in the team thread http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewto ... ead#unread