Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
(OP)
Hi Guys,
First time poster so go easy....
In the following pics i have highlighted some frontal radiator exhaust areas in red.
http://img826.imageshack.us/g/dscf2527.jpg/
My question is why have they created outlets like this? What would their use be? What pressures etc would you expect to see?
As i understand it the air would enter the front go through the radiator then exit through the outlets. I'm assuming due to high pressure air one side and low pressure air at the outlet side this would assist in cooling the radiator but what affect would this cause at the outlet aerodynamically?
Would it help with wheel turbulence? Less drag? Could it be detrimental to cars performance?
Im an aero noob but an electrical engineer so feel free to get technical.
Cheers guys
First time poster so go easy....
In the following pics i have highlighted some frontal radiator exhaust areas in red.
http://img826.imageshack.us/g/dscf2527.jpg/
My question is why have they created outlets like this? What would their use be? What pressures etc would you expect to see?
As i understand it the air would enter the front go through the radiator then exit through the outlets. I'm assuming due to high pressure air one side and low pressure air at the outlet side this would assist in cooling the radiator but what affect would this cause at the outlet aerodynamically?
Would it help with wheel turbulence? Less drag? Could it be detrimental to cars performance?
Im an aero noob but an electrical engineer so feel free to get technical.
Cheers guys





RE: Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
my 2c ... probably not worth that ...
RE: Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
-5^2 = -25
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RE: Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
RE: Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
RE: Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
If you want airflow over the spoiler, then don't run it through the body. All the extra resistance from the ducting lowers the pressure and the flow.
TTFN
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RE: Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
RE: Race car aerodynamics frontal area outlets
The discharged airflow exiting those radiator ducts has high velocity/momentum due to the large amounts of energy imparted to it as it passes across the heat exchanger core. The cars shown in your pictures are likely flat bottom cars. Discharging the high velocity cooling airflow along the side edge gaps of the car's flat bottom creates a local low pressure zone that extracts air out from underneath the flat chassis bottom, creating downforce.
As a mechanical guy, with no aero knowledge, that's my explanation for it. So take it for what it's worth!
Good luck.
Terry