McLaren MCL35

[trinidefender]

The front of the cape acts like leading edge root extensions (LERX) in some military jets.

It creates its own vortex to push the airflow where it's needed (as referenced in the BBC article). There is a definite downward angle throughout the cape with the steepest section being right at the front. This generates a high pressure region at the bottom of the leading edge of the cape and a low pressure region at the top. The airflow then rolls around from the high pressure side to the low pressure side creating a vortex. This exact method was pioneered in combat aircraft to keep flow attached at very high angles of attack the control the airflow.





With the accompanying article about LERX here: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0176.shtml

[Lucky]

[godlameroso]

The front of the cape acts like leading edge root extensions (LERX) in some military jets.

It creates its own vortex to push the airflow where it's needed (as referenced in the BBC article). There is a definite downward angle throughout the cape with the steepest section being right at the front. This generates a high pressure region at the bottom of the leading edge of the cape and a low pressure region at the top. The airflow then rolls around from the high pressure side to the low pressure side creating a vortex. This exact method was pioneered in combat aircraft to keep flow attached at very high angles of attack the control the airflow.

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fi ... f18_46.jpg
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/pl ... x-cfd1.jpg
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/pl ... x-cfd2.jpg

With the accompanying article about LERX here: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0176.shtml

The leading edge of the cape is raised to give more air mass for the cape to work. This is also done on the leading edge of the floor. The other benefit is as you say, the leading edge creates a high pressure zone, the pressure aft of the leading edge stabilizes and is joined by free stream air and continues to follow the curvature of the cape creating a high pressure along the top side, means the net pressure under the cape is negative, but only enough to create a vortex, this vortex has to go under the floor.

Like nyeeaa

[M840TR]

You guys seem to be confusing high and low pressure air. You ideally want a low pressure air for the aero to work. The top of the aero surface has high pressure air that escapes down towards the high speed low pressure air, thus creating a vortex.

[MtthsMlw]

Good view on the bargeboard

[PhillipM]

Should be the changes to the tea tray here for practice evaluation, I guess that's what someone reported as a 'new floor'

[mclaren111]

Lots of development available for future.... Renault and Merc's are similar....

[CjC]

Yea when you look at that Renault cape it’s fair to say ours is very underdeveloped.

It seems to me the best direction within these current aero regs is to make use of a cape.

There’s an arguement to be made that we were the fastest un-caped car when you consider Merc, Red bull, racing points and Ricanult are faster packages with the capes they had from pre season testing

[trinidefender]

Yea when you look at that Renault cape it’s fair to say ours is very underdeveloped.

It seems to me the best direction within these current aero regs is to make use of a cape.

There’s an arguement to be made that we were the fastest un-caped car when you consider Merc, Red bull, racing points and Ricanult are faster packages with the capes they had from pre season testing

We've had a cape since last year. It was just designed a bit differently that the new one. It started off between the FW mounting pillars at the base of the nose instead of how it is now with the mounting pillars close together

[Lucky]

Amus:
McLaren komplettiert den in Mugello eingeführten veränderten Frontflügel und die neue Nase mit Teil zwei des Upgrades. Damit ist das neue Paket komplett. "Es betrifft hauptsächlich den Unterboden im Bereich vor den Seitenkästen", erzählt Teamchef Andreas Seidl. Beide Fahrer kommen in den Genuss der neuen Teile. "Wir haben zwei Sets dabei. Die Ersatzteile sind spärlich. Deshalb müssen unsere Fahrer aufpassen." McLaren ist zufrieden mit den Fortschritten. "Die Datenanalyse nach Sotschi hat uns gezeigt, dass wir auf dem richtigen Weg sind.

McLaren completes the modified front wing introduced in Mugello and the new nose with part two of the upgrade. This completes the new package. "It mainly affects the sub-floor in the area in front of the side pods," says team boss Andreas Seidl. Both drivers can enjoy the new parts. "We have two sets with us. The spare parts are scarce. That is why our drivers have to be careful." McLaren is happy with the progress. "The data analysis after Sochi showed us that we are on the right track.

[billamend]

Interesting that both drivers can have the new package, but Norris was using the old nose.

[diffuser]

Yea when you look at that Renault cape it’s fair to say ours is very underdeveloped.

It seems to me the best direction within these current aero regs is to make use of a cape.

There’s an arguement to be made that we were the fastest un-caped car when you consider Merc, Red bull, racing points and Ricanult are faster packages with the capes they had from pre season testing

We've had a cape since last year. It was just designed a bit differently that the new one. It started off between the FW mounting pillars at the base of the nose instead of how it is now with the mounting pillars close together

The cape goes back even further than that with the other nose we had back in the first year with Renault.

[CjC]

Yea when you look at that Renault cape it’s fair to say ours is very underdeveloped.

It seems to me the best direction within these current aero regs is to make use of a cape.

There’s an arguement to be made that we were the fastest un-caped car when you consider Merc, Red bull, racing points and Ricanult are faster packages with the capes they had from pre season testing

We've had a cape since last year. It was just designed a bit differently that the new one. It started off between the FW mounting pillars at the base of the nose instead of how it is now with the mounting pillars close together

Your are right we did. I meant the slim nose, narrow mounting pillars.
As so often it seems my generalisation gets misunderstood on this forum

[PlatinumZealot]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51739796

This article is from an actual F1 aerodynamicist.

"One of the first features that the y250 vortex starts to interact with is either the cape, or the J vane, depending on which is fitted.

Now, remember all the air is rotating around the y250 vortex. This is driving air downwards in the middle of the car.

This air hits the edge of the cape or J vane and creates a second vortex, this time rotating in the opposite direction.

This new vortex is absolutely key to the aerodynamics of the whole car.

The reason for this is that the next thing it does is go under the floor. Here, it triggers something a bit like a chain reaction."

Reads like Willem Toet.

He's very open and willing to teach.

[PlatinumZealot]

The front of the cape acts like leading edge root extensions (LERX) in some military jets.

It creates its own vortex to push the airflow where it's needed (as referenced in the BBC article). There is a definite downward angle throughout the cape with the steepest section being right at the front. This generates a high pressure region at the bottom of the leading edge of the cape and a low pressure region at the top. The airflow then rolls around from the high pressure side to the low pressure side creating a vortex. This exact method was pioneered in combat aircraft to keep flow attached at very high angles of attack the control the airflow.

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fi ... f18_46.jpg
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/pl ... x-cfd1.jpg
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/pl ... x-cfd2.jpg

With the accompanying article about LERX here: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0176.shtml

The leading edge of the cape is raised to give more air mass for the cape to work. This is also done on the leading edge of the floor. The other benefit is as you say, the leading edge creates a high pressure zone, the pressure aft of the leading edge stabilizes and is joined by free stream air and continues to follow the curvature of the cape creating a high pressure along the top side, means the net pressure under the cape is negative, but only enough to create a vortex, this vortex has to go under the floor.

Like nyeeaa
https://i.ma.ga/CTAfZ.jpg

I think it is raised simply becuase that's the direction of air flow on the surface of the nose. If you kook at the flow-viz you will see how it aligns.
That section of it is basically what you see at the footplates of the front wing. That little tunnel vortex effect.