F1 Aero: Making the Floor Work.

Summary

This video explores the intricate process of optimizing a Formula 1 car's aerodynamics, focusing on the floor and diffuser design. It highlights the critical role of airflow management in achieving maximum downforce and minimizing turbulence. Through a series of simulations and iterative modifications, significant performance gains are made by adjusting the car's floor geometry and diffuser shape. The video also discusses the importance of logical, data-driven changes over copying competitor designs, and suggests further improvements in the floor edge and vortex management for continued development.

Takeaways

• 😀 The connection between the front and rear aerodynamics of a car's floor is critical to improving overall performance, particularly by optimizing the airflow under the car.
• 😀 Air molecules under the floor travel at the speed of sound, meaning any changes to the diffuser and floor design can significantly affect the car's aerodynamics and downforce.
• 😀 The floor fences of Formula 1 cars function similarly to front wings, creating downforce through pressure differences, with the length of the vortex indicating how well the front and rear of the floor are connected.
• 😀 Initial simulations showed that the vortex generated by the floor fences dissipated too early, suggesting insufficient air volume entering the diffuser.
• 😀 By altering the midsection of the floor, the airflow entering and exiting the car's floor was improved, contributing to an increase in downforce of more than 22%.
• 😀 The floor's midsection was altered to lower the pressure and reduce turbulence at the diffuser exit, but the best results were obtained by balancing the geometry of the front and rear sections.
• 😀 Adjusting the floor's midsection, the diffuser, and the rear beam wing led to a 10% overall increase in downforce, though some minor adjustments, like notches added to the floor, were found to reduce performance by 4%.
• 😀 Modifying the diffuser length in front of the rear beam wing reversed previous performance losses and resulted in significant gains, proving that proper analysis is crucial over mere imitation of design features.
• 😀 Key aerodynamic features such as the vortex generated by the floor fences, the skates, and flick-ups play an essential role in sealing the airflow to the car's underside and improving diffuser performance.
• 😀 After improving diffuser effectiveness, further work on the edge of the floor may be necessary, as teams could potentially develop additional pieces to enhance airflow and overall aerodynamic performance.

Q & A

What is the relationship between the front and rear aerodynamics in a ground effect car?

The front and rear aerodynamics are interconnected, especially concerning the airflow beneath the car. Changes to the rear diffuser can influence how air moves under the front floor, and vice versa, creating a balanced and efficient aerodynamic setup. The goal is to enhance the airflow under the car to maximize downforce and minimize turbulence.

How does the speed of the airflow beneath the car affect the aerodynamics?

The air molecules moving under the floor travel at speeds close to the speed of sound. By lowering the air pressure and improving the diffuser's efficiency, it can have a positive effect on the front aerodynamics, as the airflow dynamics under the floor are highly sensitive to pressure and turbulence.

What is the role of floor fences in a ground effect car?

Floor fences act like front wings, creating downforce through pressure differences. They help in controlling the airflow underneath the car by directing it into the diffuser, thereby generating vortexes that improve aerodynamic efficiency. These vortexes connect the front and rear sections of the floor, creating more consistent airflow.

Why was the floor section modified during the simulation?

The floor was modified to increase the volume of air entering and exiting the floor area, which would optimize the diffuser's effectiveness. The midsection of the floor was adjusted to provide better airflow dynamics, and changes to the chassis height were made to accommodate the altered floor profile.

What were the results of the first floor modification?

The first floor modification, which focused on the midsection, led to an increase in downforce by 22%, equating to about a 10% overall increase. This was achieved by improving airflow and pressure distribution beneath the car, especially in the diffuser region.

What was the issue with the diffuser in the initial setup?

In the initial setup, there was insufficient airflow entering the diffuser, which was too aggressive or poorly shaped. This resulted in less effective downforce generation. The diffuser's shape and the lack of airflow under the floor were limiting overall aerodynamic performance.

How did adjusting the diffuser shape improve the performance?

By shortening and modifying the diffuser, the car experienced improved flow characteristics, leading to more balanced and efficient aerodynamic behavior. The diffuser was less aggressive, which reduced turbulence, and the floor now had a continuous vortex path, improving the car's overall downforce.

What was the impact of adding notches similar to Ferrari's design?

The addition of notches, inspired by Ferrari’s design, did not yield positive results. Instead, it reduced performance by about 4%. The notches likely disrupted the vortex formation or affected the low ride height performance, potentially leading to undesirable aerodynamic effects.

What lesson can be drawn from the attempt to copy Ferrari’s design?

The key lesson is that proper analysis is more beneficial than merely copying design elements from other teams. The logical next step for improving the diffuser's effectiveness was to focus on connecting the front and rear floor sections, enhancing the diffuser's extraction capabilities instead of focusing on copying external features.

What changes were made to the floor and diffuser in the final model?

In the final model, the diffuser was shortened in front of the rear beam wing, which reversed the previous losses and improved performance. This modification connected the front and rear floors more effectively, leading to better aerodynamic results, despite slightly reducing symmetry.