Williams FW35 Renault

[drunkmunky]

Crazy that they have enough space in that axel to direct air flow upwards from that duct.

[Maynard G. Krebs]

How do they get air INTO the axle?

[drunkmunky]

The brake duct directs air into the axle from the inside face of the tire

[beelsebob]

How do they get air INTO the axle?

Presumably it's hollow at the other end, and uses some fancy pants bearing to hold it in place somewhere along it's length.

[Maynard G. Krebs]

"The other end" being inside the bodywork, though? Doesn't seem like it would help much.
I can't envision how they do it without slots in the axle, but that doesn't seem helpful either.

[drunkmunky]

"The other end" being inside the bodywork, though? Doesn't seem like it would help much.
I can't envision how they do it without slots in the axle, but that doesn't seem helpful either.

The axle duct has nothing to do with bodywork.
There is a big gigantic hole through the axle shaft, like a hollow pipe.

The brake duct directs air towards the brake system, while diverting air from the inner wheel face, through the hollow axle, to the outer wheel surface.

When you remove air from one portion of the aerodynamic flow of the car, in this instance; the brake duct and the inner wheel area directing the air towards the outer wheel surface, the act of displacing air flow will allow the displaced areas of the bodywork of the car to be less disrupted by the aero-turbulance of the wheel therefore making it more effective.

[Maynard G. Krebs]

Oh I see. The front axle is short- basically the width of the wheel. I was thinking it went into the nose of the car for some reason.
Thanks.

[stefan_]

Barcelona (Test 3, Session 2) - Day 1 (28.02.2013)

Exhaust / back end layout
http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 137.47.jpg

http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 140.14.jpg

Front view
http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 146.29.jpg

[beelsebob]

"The other end" being inside the bodywork, though? Doesn't seem like it would help much.
I can't envision how they do it without slots in the axle, but that doesn't seem helpful either.

We're talking about the front axle here, the other end is in the hub, it would be (relatively) trivial to get the air out of the break duct, around, and into the end of the axle.

[stefan_]

Williams FW35 - Rear End detail

Williams FW35 - Another shot of the revised layout inside the blown axle

via SomersF1/Sutton Images

[GrizzleBoy]

Wonder how these things could possibly mess with other cars aero balance in wheel to wheel racing.

Just think of invisible pylons made of turbulent rotating air sticking out of the sides of wheels lol

[drunkmunky]

The aerodynamic wake of both cars would disrupt each other far greater than any single aerodynamic device.

This is why you see a lot of combating cars slow the grid down. It's not just because they are battling, but the 2x aero-effect of combating cars produce a lot of turbulent drag.

Hence the importance of a fast car to get into clean air asap.

[beelsebob]

The aerodynamic wake of both cars would disrupt each other far greater than any single aerodynamic device.

This is why you see a lot of combating cars slow the grid down. It's not just because they are battling, but the 2x aero-effect of combating cars produce a lot of turbulent drag.

Hence the importance of a fast car to get into clean air asap.

Not really, the problem is more simply that to defend you end up taking a tighter line into turns, and slowing down more on the apex, where no move can be made, then taking a tighter line out again. It's not that aero is being cocked up particularly – it's simply that you're driving a line that's not optimal, but does cock block the person attacking you. Of course aero effects do have an impact, it's just minimal compared to driving a slower line.

[drunkmunky]

2 sides of the same coin imo.

[ringo]

And i presume this thing is on bearings and stays level?
I notice the shape is not circular, so if it were to rotate there would be a spiral wave of air coming out the wheel.

If it does stay level, you could say a steady stream comes out.

One thing though, this hole does not share the same duct as the brakes. The flow would not go through the brakes much if it can easily flow through this big hole in the wheel. The air pressure wont be able to build and pump through the brakes.