Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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wesley123
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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The wing profile there is just to keep the flow attached over the sidepod shoulder, the part itself doesnt create any df, at least it is not its purpose to do so.
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boyracer94
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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I agree that this new conditioner should better keep flow attached to the sidepod surface, however wouldn't the older conditioners provide a better direction, ie. towards the exhaust outlet?
p.s nice illustration :)

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turbof1
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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boyracer94 wrote:I agree that this new conditioner should better keep flow attached to the sidepod surface, however wouldn't the older conditioners provide a better direction, ie. towards the exhaust outlet?
p.s nice illustration :)
No I think this solution does redirect better: the air squeezed at the right place. The air is boxed in virtually completely, whereas with the vertical conditioners the air could still spill. What I am concerned about is if this solution is able enough to push down the exhaust plume and if the flow above the conditioner can reattach itself well enough before reaching the floor and diffuser.
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OO7
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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Is it possible that there are vertical flow conditioning strakes between the horizontal section and the sidepod?

Owen.C93
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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Jackles-UK wrote:More modifications to RW endplate strakes (no surprise really given the new RW). Strakes have been moved up so that the lowest strake is now fully above the top of the diffuser, in Hungary they were still dangling around in the middle of it. Small change but anything could be useful!
I think they're the same as last race.
http://img3.auto-motor-und-sport.de/McL ... 616013.jpg
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turbof1
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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Blaze1 wrote:Is it possible that there are vertical flow conditioning strakes between the horizontal section and the sidepod?
I'm almost 100% certain that that is forbidden by the rules. Else they would have certainly done that.

The more I think about this solution, the more I am getting convinced it is better, IF it works like intended. The winglets should make sure air above the horizontal conditoner is transitioned smooth enough so that it bends back down afterwards. It will not be as much air flowing over the exhaust plume as the previous solution, but air passing through the gap will be accelerated thus will be more powerfull to pull the plume down.

I made some slightly better illustrations, might have to ask scarbs how he makes his drawings if I'm going to do this in the future, paint is not really anything but a quick tool.

Image

So again the airflows illustrated. I added the exhaust plume and the air passing along the floor, though not really needed here, just to be complete. Have to add though that I'm not implying that exhaust plume and the airflow along the floor merge, but cross.

This what I think will happen if the winglets are not there:

Image

the top airflow bumps into the conditioner and will be much more seperated.
#AeroFrodo

NoDivergence
NoDivergence
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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I think this is mostly right. It delays the separation over the top of the sidepod. Really neat idea

Robbobnob
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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those wiglets will create vorticies rather than having any significant effect on the curvature of the airflow, due to their minuscule aspect ratio and pronounced sharp wing tips.

The turning vane is interesting to say the least. They have attempted to reduced the induced drag created by the tip of the turning vane by creating a closed loop. However i expect that configuration to produce more lift over the top of the side pod section which is counter intuitive when considering that the vertical strakes that were there previously were designed to disrupt the air flow and reduce the lift created. They are also going to have greater surface area for friction drag and pressure drag at the entry to the throat created by the turning vane.

Without some rudimentary CFD analysis i cannot predict whether the vane helps with flow conditioning over the sidepods, however i will conclude that they are sacrificing aero efficiency for downforce, which again seems counter intuitive due to spa demanding the best aero efficiency of all the tracks on the calendar. Perhaps Mclaren are sacrificing some of their top end speed to be better planted in the corners. A ploy that they have in fact used previously at spa and Monza. But perhaps by reducing the induced drag from the vortex generated by the wing tip of the turning vane they are gaining a benefit by not changing their overall drag.
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Chuckjr
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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Wow those wrap around side pod growths are as ugly as the Ferrari step nose. I hope for Macca's sake they work!
Watching F1 since 1986.

McMrocks
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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zyphro wrote:Image
brake ducts not fitted or why i can't see any?

Coefficient
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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Glad to see Mcalren are getting into the development game properly this year. I know they must have been in it the last 2 years too but there was very little visually race to race in 2010 and 2011. The MP4 27 was perhaps conceived around a concept that had greater scope for development than the last 2 cars or is it just that the teams are finding ways of designing their cars to open up loopholes in the dimensions which permit the addition of more and more appendages that were intended to be outlawed by the 2009 regs?
"I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it".

aral
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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McMrocks wrote: brake ducts not fitted or why i can't see any?
The ducts are there OK, but as they are mounted low, you cannot see them in the picture. Note that the fin attached to the rear of the duct, is clearly visible.

Owen.C93
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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Brake ducts aren't fitted in that image.

Here's a super hi res image of the low DF front wing that I won't embed for now.
http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 1855.2.jpg
Motorsport Graduate in search of team experience ;)

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turbof1
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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Owen.C93 wrote:Brake ducts aren't fitted in that image.

Here's a super hi res image of the low DF front wing that I won't embed for now.
http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 1855.2.jpg
I'm getting sea sick looking at that front wing. McLaren must go for a world record most complex shape made.

Concerning the barge boards:

Image

Looking from the back we can clearly see how much air is being pressurized before exiting under the barge board. A very agressive approach. I might be wrong, but doesn't the turning vane look different then previous race? Looks far more to interact with the barge board.
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naniSauber
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Re: Vodafone McLaren MP4-27 Mercedes

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I a little reminded of Sauber here