Rear Wing of F1 car

[pranav]

I am currently working on a project titled " Aerodynamic design and analysis of rear wing of F1 car". i am planning to make a rear wing out of foam and test it in a wind tunnel.I am also thinking of doing a model and testing it in CFD. Is this possible? and also, does anyone have any ready models made on any software which can be opened in CFD on which i can work on as i am really short of time?

Thanks

Pranav

[timbo]

I think that testing of the rear wing out of context (esp. in today's vortex aero cars) is of little use. Anyway, good luck with it, it would be cool if you post your progress here!

[pranav]

Thanks very much for your reply.

Can u please suggest me a better way of proceeding with the work?

[zac510]

Sounds like a school project so as long as proves that he understands the concept it doesn't matter whether the wing is being tested on the whole car or not.

Start with a simple NACA airfoil (these are probably the most accessible wing profiles and there are some online calculators for them), slap on endplate.

Then get tricky and add extra elements with slot gaps.

Someone here might have a more relevant profile you can use.

[ReubenG]

You haven't mentioned what level this project is - it sounds like a final year engineering project to me. A friend of mine had a similar topic for his final year project, but he used a standard NACA aerofoil and did model it with CFD (Fluent if I remember correctly). Using a standard section, where there is likely to be CAD data floating around, will be easier than trying to replicate the non-standard profiles used currently in F1.

Two thoughts:
1. If you're using foam, I'm assuming you will coat it in epoxy or something similar to give you a reasonable surface finish.

2. Instrumentation - think about what you can realistically measure on your wind tunnel tests that you can use for correlation / validation with your CFD. My afore-mentioned friend had an array of pressure transducers along the cord of the aerofoil.

Best of luck with the project - and remember that a simple project concept, with good understanding and execution, is far better that a complex project with poor understanding!

[pranav]

Thanks again to every1 who has replied. The suggestions put forward surely will help me......

Will keep you guys posted about my progress.

[pranav]

Hi guys.

Just have a few things to clear out. How is the size and profile of a single element rear wing usually decided? First i was thinking of making a simple symmetrical wing profile, but then thought of making a more relevant wing profile. For this i found a standard NACA profile 2412 which i designed in Catia V5. I took its chord as 230mm and span as 420mm. I found out the coordinates (station and ordinates) and then made it in catia.

How is the required downforce and wing performance and constraints decided? I mean how can one decide the required downforce for the wing he is making without first making the wing? Or is the design of the wing based on what downforce is required?

So what i would like to know is usually how is the size and profile decided? Did i follow the right path?

[rjsa]

Hi guys.

Just have a few things to clear out. How is the size and profile of a single element rear wing usually decided? First i was thinking of making a simple symmetrical wing profile, but then thought of making a more relevant wing profile. For this i found a standard NACA profile 2412 which i designed in Catia V5. I took its chord as 230mm and span as 420mm. I found out the coordinates (station and ordinates) and then made it in catia.

How is the required downforce and wing performance and constraints decided? I mean how can one decide the required downforce for the wing he is making without first making the wing? Or is the design of the wing based on what downforce is required?

So what i would like to know is usually how is the size and profile decided? Did i follow the right path?

The main restricting parameter are the rules. You must choose a rule set and stick to it. This will give you the basic size and construction limits.

Downforce levels are chosen based on lap time, don't go that way, you will go crazy. Get a set of rules and take the most downforce you can with a goog l/d ratio (wich I can't tell you what is). This will be your Monaco setup wing.

[pranav]

Can someone please tell me the size of the endplates on rear wings used these days? i mean the height "h" of the endplate? how much is it in "mm" or "cm"?

Urgent

[rjsa]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5697&start=40, 2009 rules. There is a nice diagream there.

[pranav]

Thanks rjsa!!! its really useful.awesome drawing.

does clear out few things about the regulations.

[mariof1]

Can someone please tell me the size of the endplates on rear wings used these days? i mean the height "h" of the endplate? how much is it in "mm" or "cm"?

Urgent

Between the rear wheel center line and a line 600mm behind it; betwenn 300 and 800mm above the reference plane; maximum thickness 20mm (between 480 and 500mm from the car center line).

[pranav]

Hi guys.

Just have a few things to clear out. How is the size and profile of a single element rear wing usually decided? First i was thinking of making a simple symmetrical wing profile, but then thought of making a more relevant wing profile. For this i found a standard NACA profile 2412 which i designed in Catia V5. I took its chord as 230mm and span as 420mm. I found out the coordinates (station and ordinates) and then made it in catia.

How is the required downforce and wing performance and constraints decided? I mean how can one decide the required downforce for the wing he is making without first making the wing? Or is the design of the wing based on what downforce is required?

So what i would like to know is usually how is the size and profile decided? Did i follow the right path?

The main restricting parameter are the rules. You must choose a rule set and stick to it. This will give you the basic size and construction limits.

Downforce levels are chosen based on lap time, don't go that way, you will go crazy. Get a set of rules and take the most downforce you can with a goog l/d ratio (wich I can't tell you what is). This will be your Monaco setup wing.

Hi rjsa!!

can u please elborate more on the following that u have said "Get a set of rules and take the most downforce you can with a goog l/d ratio (wich I can't tell you what is). This will be your Monaco setup wing."

i dont exactly get it. what set of rules should one follow while deciding the downforce with a good l/d ratio?

Also...can u tell me what reynold number values are used for small scale models wind tunnel testing.

[mariof1]

I no expert, but I think he meant to define maximum bodywork allowed areas to encourage a typical rear wing design in a particular spot on the rear of the car.

Then, when you make use of the whole area, you're basically running a high downforce configuration.

[rjsa]

I no expert, but I think he meant to define maximum bodywork allowed areas to encourage a typical rear wing design in a particular spot on the rear of the car.

Then, when you make use of the whole area, you're basically running a high downforce configuration.

Spot on. Use all the space allowed by the rules.

L/D is lift/drag, the amount of usefull downforce compared to the drag generated. I have no clue what would be this number for a F1 rear wing. Anyone?

About the reynolds number, there is a thread around where this was discussed. Must be in general chat, we where discussing downforce in RC cars.