Wings attached to wheels

[peanutaxis]

In one of the races this year I think it was Ted Kravitz talked about some aerodynamic flip-ups/turning-veins actually ON the wheel assemblies. He pointed out that this is desirable as the downforce doesn't have to go through the suspension and shassis etc.

Now it may well be forbidden by the rules - some of you guys will know - but would it be possible to attach the wings directly to the wheels? No doubt there would need to be slight movement/bearings where they attach.

[riff_raff]

I believe you meant to say "wings attached to some unsprung part of the suspension", and not attached directly to the wheels? Attaching to the wheels would be quite complex, since it would require axles, bearings and drag links. Attaching to an unsprung part of the suspension would achieve the same effect, and it has been done before. But as you note it would not be allowed under current rules.

[DaveKillens]

Theoretically the ideal would be to have all aero downforce act directly on the suspension uprights. But the regulations forbid it for good reason, terrific shock loads would travel up to the wings whenever the wheel hit a bump. Those spindly linkages shown in riff raff's picture did break with terrible consequences.

In the current cars they do hang little winglets off the rear brake ducts to generate downforce. They could do the same with the front, but instead have vanes and such to direct airflow, since it's more important to massage the air in that area.

[gixxer_drew]

It just lets you optimize your handling for mechanical grip without worrying about aero load or aero attitude changes, its a big deal. You can make it work, people did right around the time it was banned. Mostly vibrational and load related failures.

Like everything with aero, it got rules limited for some reason. Anything that offers one team a huge advantage that not all teams understand (especially ones with more money) seems to go like that.

[Lycoming]

The problems associated with doing so (apart from the delicate linkages) include higher unsprung mass, as well as the fact that the wing sort of becomes an anti roll bar.

[Just_a_fan]

The last attempt to do this was the Lotus 88 which directed the downforce from the ground effect underside directly on the suspension uprights. It was excluded from racing after the other teams protested.