cfd vehicle development in real world application?

[jammer84_03]

well, first off let me introduce myself as i have been a long time lurker, first time poster. im james, a scca race driver, and speed shop owner. im looking to pioneer into the csr or dsr class racing series in scca this year where you have the ability to modify every aspect of your car to any aspect you so desire. the only real regulations in this class are the engines (1000cc max n/a, or 660cc turbo) and the weight of the car (900 lbs). i have a few people on board for possible sponsors, and a full season of racing with the chance of being in the runoffs which is nationally televised.

now, there is currently no one running a turbo setup on any engine and this is the route i was looking at going. as well, a engine from a cbr600rr is a potent powerplant and would do well for being boosted. looking for a reliable engine as well as power is hard to do, but a 600cc engine with a mid-sized turbo could net 300hp if properly executed without being a complete time-bomb.

now for the part where i would like to guage your intrest. i saw the thread that was started a few years ago, and keeps re-emerging on designing your own car to be used in racing. now with the current rules and regs in the scca dsr and csr, we could have a car designed and used with any type of aerodynamic device you want to use. (so long as it is not a taped on temporary item) would anyone here be intrested in designing an aero package for this car and have it put to use and raced in a open class? also for those that would like to join up (and if the car makes it) would be intrested in being a part of the pit crew for the national runoff race if you help in designing the car (also recognition to the boards in any t.v. interview which it broadcast on speed tv?)

the car i was looking to purchase as a roller is a stohr wf1. here are a couple pictures. also here is a page with some tear down pictures so you can see how much we have to work with. http://www.trackpedia.com/blogs/john/






and here are some of the first conceptual drawings of the stohr wf1




also a

[Conceptual]

If you are based in Pennsylvania, I'm all over this like white on rice.

If not, I'm going to cry!

Chris

[jammer84_03]

unfortunately no, im in southwest michigan. you can still submit ideas though if you want. i have a bunch of people on borad that have various jobs and skill levels and all ideas are great. lots of engineers are getting a crack at it, and my buddies went to school at kettering university (GM engineering school basically) one is an electrical engineer, and the other has had lots of work with composite materials (ie. carbon fiber). basially, im want people to run with this and have a ton of fun, and hopefully make it as quick as possible. (at least thats the aim of it.... )

[elise787]

not really familiar with bike engines, but going to the turbo route would definately give a good torque which will be a benefit in traffic (in the right rev). You need to becareful of the exhaust heat on the surounding bodyworkds.

BTW, does the scca allows ground effect tunnels all the way to the front for your class? From the previous photos that i have seen, the tunnel only starts from the rear bulkhead. It would be really cool to see the old F1 ground effect tunnels in the modern race sene.

Cheers, Please keep us update with your season progress.
=D>

[slimjim8201]

I would love to take a look at your CAD model. I'm swamped with real work right now (paying jobs) and I still want to do some tests on Manchilds nose cone idea from an earlier thread, but nevertheless, I'd be interested in at least taking a look at this.

[jammer84_03]

directly from the rule book.

d. Bodywork (See GCR Section 9.)
Bodywork shall provide comfort and safety for driver and a passenger
or for a driver only. All elements of the bodywork shall be completely
and neatly designed and finished, with no temporary or makeshift
elements.
1. The bodywork as viewed from the side and above shall cover
all mechanical components except that the intake, exhaust,
and radiators may be exposed. The bodywork shall extend over
the full width of the tires for at least one-third (1/3) of their
circumference as viewed from the side. Ventilation slots are
permitted. The tires shall not be seen as viewed from directly
above (i.e., along a line perpendicular to the axle intersecting
the center of the top of the tire), although the rear tires may be
exposed as viewed from the rear. Cycle-type fenders (which
only cover the tire and are not continuous with the rest of the
body) are prohibited. Fenders shall be firmly attached to the
bodywork with no gap between body and fender. Aerodynamic
skirts are prohibited. See next Section for definition.

2. It is the intent of these rules to minimize the use of “ground
effects” to achieve aerodynamic downforce on the vehicle.
Thus, for the full width of the body the floor pan will be a
minimum of 45% of the wheelbase; the lower surface (surface
licked by the air stream) shall not exceed 2.54 cm (1 inch)
deviation in any longitudinal section through the plane forming
the bottom of the tub or chassis floor. The 45% minimum
(of the wheelbase) dimension is measured from the point that
the surface meets the full width of the body (behind the front
wheel or in front of the rear wheel). (This is not to be interpreted
as requiring a floor pan beneath the motor, transaxle,
transmission, or final drive housing.) No aerodynamic devices
(e.g. “skirts,” body sides, etc.) may extend more than 1cm
(0.394 inches) below this lower surface anywhere on the car
to the rear of the front axle. Seat bucket or other protrusions
shall not circumvent this rule. Aerodynamic devices shall be
securely mounted on the entirely sprung part of the car and
not be movable when the car is in motion. It is not permitted
to duct air through any part of the bodywork for the purpose
of providing aerodynamic downforce on the car. All ducted air
which exits through the top of the bodywork behind the rear of
the front tires, excluding the cockpit opening, fender louvers,
or slots, louvers, grills and similar devices for allowing heat to
escape the engine bay, shall pass through a heat exchanger.

Figure 3 – Example Longitudinal Section Through Floor Pan in Controlled
Area (Maximum Deviation 1 inch)

3. Dimensions
a. Height: No part of the vehicle having special or significant
aerodynamic function shall exceed a height of 115cm
(45.25 in) above the ground with car in normal racing trim,
driver aboard. Neither the safety roll bar nor the engine
induction intake shall provide an aerodynamic downforce.

b. Width: The maximum width shall not exceed 221cm (87
inches) including all aerodynamic devices. However, no
portion shall extend more than 10cm (3.9 inches) beyond
a plane tangent to the outer face of the front and rear
wheels with tires. The minimum body width between the
front and rear wheels shall not extend inwards beyond a
vertical plane connecting the centerlines of the front and
rear tires.

c. Length: The maximum overall length shall be 485.3cm
(191 inches).

d. Cockpit: The driver’s seat shall be capable of being entered
without the removal or manipulation of any part or panel
except for a removable steering wheel and/or cockpit
padding (except for those closed cockpit cars which are
specifically allowed by the SCCA). The cockpit opening
shall comply with the following minimum dimensions for
both single and two seater sports racers: Cockpit length:
60cm (23.662 inches) Cockpit width: 45cm (17.717
inches) maintained over 30cm (11.811 inches) from the
most rearward point of the seat backrest toward the front.
Forward-facing roll bar and roll cage bracing and required
padding are not considered part of the dimensions above.
The cockpit openings of a non-metallic chassis shall be
designed to meet FIA F3 homologation requirements
(Article 275).

4. Visibility: Bodywork shall provide visibility for the driver
forward and to both sides adequate for racing conditions. Rear
view mirror(s) shall provide the driver with visibility to the rear
of both sides of the car.

5. Windscreens are optional.

6. Bodywork shall provide comfort and safety for both driver
and a passenger. There shall be seats of equal dimension and
comfort for the driver and a passenger equally disposed on each side of the longitudinal axis of the car.
Seats shall be firmly attached in the car, but may provide adjustment
for the size of the occupant. The body surrounding the
driver and passenger compartment shall be symmetrical about
the longitudinal axis of the car. The passenger’s space and
seat shall remain usable throughout the competition and shall
not be encroached upon by an element of the car or equipment
except as provided in these Rules.
Note: Paragraph 6 does not apply to single seat sports racers.

[miqi23]

Your car has potential mate. I am not sure how much modification you can afford, I havent read the rules you have posted but you may want to consider the region behind the driver helmet. You are spoiling all the nice flow to the rear wing there.

Well, if your rear wing dont work properly, the diffuser and underbody wont work properly. You can also do with rounding off the wheel arches behind the tyres too to reduce drag. Also a newly designed front splitter etc etc..