| Author |
Message |
Rob Schermerhorn (Rexrcr)
Member
Username: Rexrcr
Post Number: 451
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 9:15 pm: | |
Honda Insight, very advanced aerodynamically. But it must then remain affordable, which negates active aero for cost. |
Patrick S. Perry (Psp1)
Junior Member
Username: Psp1
Post Number: 139
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 7:02 pm: | |
I realized that it was banned by most (all?) racing federations. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of a high performance / high efficiency long range commuter car - something that would be very fuel efficient but fun for the weekends. |
Rob Schermerhorn (Rexrcr)
Member
Username: Rexrcr
Post Number: 446
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 6:13 pm: | |
Patrick, the system you speak of is an engineers wet dream, especially for racing. Unfortunatly, outlawed by all sanctioning bodies. Of course it has been thought of, it would yeild optimum aerodynamic characteristics at all performance points, all speeds, all corners.
This is just like active suspension in F1 and sportscars in the early 90's. Optimised for all situations.
The greatest benefit is lowering drag while going straight, greatest downforce at slowest speeds, tapering off as cornering speeds increase.
Note that the Enzo active aero decreases at close to top speed, but is maximum at lower speeds (I don't remember the specification.)
Great question! |
Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member
Username: Mitch_alsup
Post Number: 438
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 6:00 pm: | |
The McLaren F1 had some sort of active aero devices under/in the tunnels on the street car. They had to be removed on the race car and a wing added to regain stability.
As a side note: Milliken and Milliken have a section on the Chaperal. They indicate that when the wing was moved into the full braking position that there was so much aero-braking thrust (backwards) at such a height (5 ft) that the front of the car could come up off the ground UNDER BRAKING! Clearly the wing had to be restrained to a sane angle of attack under brakes! |
Patrick S. Perry (Psp1)
Junior Member
Username: Psp1
Post Number: 137
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 12:31 pm: | |
Porsche had a rear spoiler that deployed at a certain speed, but I don't think it adjusted after deployment.
|
Ben Millermon (Brainsboy)
Junior Member
Username: Brainsboy
Post Number: 181
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 12:24 pm: | |
I think one of the porsche's have this. I could of sworn I saw a porsche a few years ago, that had a wing that moves at different speeds. |
Patrick S. Perry (Psp1)
Junior Member
Username: Psp1
Post Number: 136
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 12:17 pm: | |
This is slightly off-topic but there are enough racers around here that maybe someone can lead me in the right direction.
Back in the 60's, Jim Hall came out with his innovative Chapparal Can-Am cars with a large wing that changed angle of attack based on the requirements of grip at the moment. Moveable wings were soon outlawed for the Can-Am series but ever since then I've wondered if they could be practical for a street car application. I assume that each tire has an ideal grip pressure where less downforce degrades stick and more downforce essentially just provides more drag and wear. With the advent of smaller, faster computer systems, would it be possible or advantageous to individually control the downforce on each corner of the car continuously using independent moveable airfoils? Wouldn't a system like this minimize unnecessary drag on high speed straight runs, compensate for aerodynamic lifting from the nose, and decrease tire wear in extreme conditions? The system would sense steering wheel inputs for turns and automatically balance the car for optimum grip from each corner of the car - it might even provide lift on the front left in the case of a hard right turn.
I've never seen anything like this (and I might be way off base) but what do you think? Is this worthy of further research? |