Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T12:24:07.542Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

On the interaction of a racing car front wing and exposed wheel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2016

S. Diasinos ,
G. Doig  and
T. J. Barber
S. Diasinos*
Affiliation:
Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
G. Doig*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
T. J. Barber*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
*
sammy.diasinos@mq.edu.au
g.doig@unsw.edu.au
t.barber@unsw.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A numerical investigation of generic open-wheel racing car wing and wheel geometry has been conducted, using original sub-scale experimental data for validation. It was determined that there are three main interactions that may occur, identifiable by the path that the main and secondary wing vortices take around the wheel. Interaction ‘A’ occurs when the main and secondary wing vortices both travel outboard of the wheel; interaction ‘B’ is obtained when only the main wing vortex passes inboard of the wheel; while interaction ‘C’ sees both wing vortices travel inboard of the wheel. The different interactions are achieved when geometric changes to the wing affect the pressure distribution about the endplate, either by altering the magnitude of suction generated by the wing or by changing the locations of peak suction and vortices relative to the wheel’s stagnation regions. As a result, the influence that the wing and wheel have on each other – in comparison to the same bodies in isolation – varies, resulting in significant consequences for downforce and drag.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 118 , Issue 1210 , December 2014 , pp. 1385 - 1407
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Katz, J. Aerodynamics of race cars, Annu Rev Fluid Mech, 2006, 38, pp 27–63.Google Scholar
2. Dominy, R.G. Aerodynamics of Grand Prix Car Proc Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1992, 206, pp 267–274.Google Scholar
3. Zhang, X. and Zerihan, J. Off-surface aerodynamic measurements of a wing in ground effect, J Aircr, 2003, 40, (4), pp 716–725.Google Scholar
4. Agathangelou, B. and Gascoyne, M. Aerodynamic Considerations of a Formula One Racing Car, 1998. SAE 980399.Google Scholar
5. Doig, G. and Barber, T.J. Considerations for numerical modeling of inverted wings in ground effect, AIAA J, 2011, 49, (10), pp 2330–2333.Google Scholar
6. Diasinos, S., Barber, T.J. and Doig, G. Infuence of wing span on the aerodynamics of wings in ground effect, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2013, 227, (3), pp 569–573.Google Scholar
7. Zerihan, J. and Zhang, X. Aerodynamics of a single element wing in ground effect, J Aircr, 2000, 37, (6), pp 1058–1064.Google Scholar
8. Zerihan, J. and Zhang, X. Aerodynamics of Gurney faps on a wing in ground effect, AIAA J, 2001, 39, (5), pp 772–780.Google Scholar
9. Zhang, X. and Zerihan, J. Aerodynamics of a double-element wing in ground effect, AIAA J, 2003,41, (6), pp 1007–1016.Google Scholar
10. Zhang, X. and Zerihan, J. Edge vortices of a double element wing in ground effect, J Aircr, 2004, 41, (5), pp 1127–1137.Google Scholar
11. Fackrell, J.E. The aerodynamics of an isolated wheel rotating in contact with the ground (Doctoral dissertation, Imperial College London (University of London)), 1974.Google Scholar
12. Issakhanian, E., Elkins, C.J., Lo, K.P. and Eaton, J.K. An experimental study of the fow around a formula one racing car tire, J Fluids Engineering, 132, (7).Google Scholar
13. Saddington, A.J., Knowles, R.D. and Knowles, K. Laser Doppler anemometry measurements in the near-wake of an isolated Formula One wheel, Experiments in fuids, 2007, 42, (5), pp 671–681.Google Scholar
14. Axerio-cilies, J., Issakhanian, E., Jimenez, J. and Iaccarino, G. An aerodynamic investigation of an isolated stationary Formula 1 wheel assembly, J Fluids Engineering, 2012, 134, (2).Google Scholar
15. Dassanayake, P.R.K., Ramachandran, D., Salati, L., Barber, T. J. and Doig, G.C. Unsteady computational simulation of the fow structure of an isolated wheel in contact with the ground. 2012, Proc. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AFMC), Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society (AFMS), Lauceston, Australia.Google Scholar
16. Zhang, X., Toet, W. and Zerihan, J. Ground effect aerodynamics of racing cars, Applied Mechanics Review, 2006, 59, (1), 33–49.Google Scholar
17. Kellar, W.P., Targett, G.J., Savill, A.M. and Dawes, W.N. An Investigation of FlowfeldInfuences Around the Front Wheel of a Formula 1 Car. Proc. 3rd Int Conf on the Engineering of Sport 2000, pp 353–360, June, Sheffeld, UK.Google Scholar
18. Barber, T.J., Leonardi, E. and Archer, R.D. Causes for discrepancies in ground effect analyses. Aeronaut J, 2002, 106, (1066), pp 653–657.Google Scholar
19. Ranzenbach, R. and BArlow, J. Multielement Aerofoil in Ground Effect, Experimental and Computational Study, 1997, AIAA 97-2238.Google Scholar
20. Stapleford, W.R. and Carr, G.W. Aerodynamic Characteristics of Exposed Rotating Wheels, 1970. MIRA Technical Report 1970/2.Google Scholar
21. Doig, G., Barber, T.J., Leonardi, E. and Neely, A.J. The onset of compressibility effects for an inverted aerofoil in ground effect, Aeronaut J, 2011, 111, (1126), pp 797–806.Google Scholar
22. Doig, G., Barber, T. and Neely, A. The infuence of compressibility on the aerodynamics of an inverted wing in ground effect, ASME J Fluids Eng, 2011, 133, (6), pp 1–12.Google Scholar
23. Keogh, J., Doig, G. and Diasinos, S. The Infuence of Compressibility Effects in Correlation Issues for Aerodynamic Development of Racing Cars, 2012. Proc. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AFMC), Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society (AFMS), Lauceston, Australia.Google Scholar
24. Doig, G. Transonic and supersonic ground effect aerodynamics, 2014, Progress in Aerospace Sciences (in press, March 2014, http://dx.doi.org/10•1016/j.paerosci.2014.02.002).Google Scholar
25. Katz, J. Aerodynamic Effects of Indy Car Components, 2002, SAE 2002-01-3311.Google Scholar
26. Diasinos, S. and Gatto, A. Experimental investigation into wing span and angle-of-attack effects on sub-scale race car wing/wheel interaction aerodynamics, Experiments in Fluids, 2008, 45, (3), pp 537–546.Google Scholar
27. Van Den Berg, M.A. and Zhang, X. The aerodynamic interaction between an inverted wing and a rotating wheel, J Fluids Engineering, 2009, 131, (10).Google Scholar
28. Diasinos, S. The Aerodynamic Interaction of a Rotating Wheel and a Downforce Producing Wing in Ground Effect, 2009. PhD, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia.Google Scholar
29. AIAA, Guide for the Verifcation and Validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations, AIAA, G-077-1998, 1998.Google Scholar
30. Roache, P.J. Quantifcation of uncertainty in computational fuid dynamics, Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 1997, 29, (1), pp 123–160.Google Scholar
31. Shih, T.H., Liou, W.W., Shabbir, A., Yang, Z. and Zhu, J. A new k -ε eddy-viscosity model for high reynolds number turbulent fows – model development and validation, Computers & Fluids, 1995 24, (3), pp 227–238.Google Scholar
32. Menter, F.R. Two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models for engineering applications, AIAA J, 1994, 32, (8), pp 269–289.Google Scholar
33. Mahon, S. and Zhang, X. Computational analysis of pressure and wake characteristics of an aerofoil in ground effect, J Fluids Engineering, 2005, 127, (2), pp 290–298.Google Scholar
34. McManus, J. and Zhang, X. A computational study of the fow around an isolated wheel in contact with the ground, J Fluids Engineering, 2006, 128, (3), pp 520–530.Google Scholar