Aerodynamic effect on spinning wheel?
Aerodynamic effect on spinning wheel?
(OP)
All of the pictures and video clips I've seen of F1 cars in the wind tunnel show the airflow over a stationary car.
Given that when the F1 car is on track the wheels rotate in the opposite direction to the wind flow, what effect does this have on the wind flow/aerodynamics of the car? and how much difference between this and having a "wheel cover" (yep I know it wouldn't be legal in F1... just interested...)
cheers
vin
Given that when the F1 car is on track the wheels rotate in the opposite direction to the wind flow, what effect does this have on the wind flow/aerodynamics of the car? and how much difference between this and having a "wheel cover" (yep I know it wouldn't be legal in F1... just interested...)
cheers
vin





RE: Aerodynamic effect on spinning wheel?
Anyway, yes the rotating wheel has a huge effect.
Papers by Cogotti, Stapleford or Katz will probably cover it in detail, Milliken gives a good overview.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Aerodynamic effect on spinning wheel?
Also, CPP Wind Engineering has built and is running a large low speed wind tunnel here in Fort Collins. Large enough for testing cyclists and help them reduce their drag. Testing is done on a set of rollers so wind interaction with the wheels/spokes is taken into account.
Regards,
Tom Moritz
Tom Moritz
Mechanical Engineer
US Bureau of Reclamation
RE: Aerodynamic effect on spinning wheel?