Air Intake design & Aerodynamics

[Ntrprise]

Looking to pinch some more intelligence!!
I have designed a car to compete in the 750 Formula. I am 3 years into building it (Yes, this project has over-run already - I was hoping to have it finished last year). Expect to still have another 2/3 weeks work on the body before I can start laying up fibre glass for my buck.

I am wondering if anyone has done much work designing and building an air box for the engine intake. Anyone slightly gifted in the aerodynamics of this area?

The idea is to get as much pressure crammed into the intake as possible, without creating unnecessary amounts of drag. The engine is quite small at 1.1 litre.

Does anyone know of any web sites or books that are quite specific about this part of the design. It seems like quite a crucial part as far as performance is concerned (more so for larger engines admittedly). Any hints and tips aside from the obvious?

[ss_collins]

Look at RCEV15N10 Simon McB addresses just this point - or try his book competition car aerodynamics

[crogthomas]

There are some very interesting practical articles on this website:
http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_1023/article.html
Unfortunately you have to pay for them and they don’t go into much theory. Some nice pictures though and some really useful practical advice on using manometers and magnehelic gauges to study aerodynamics. The short free introductions to the articles are often enough to get a picture of what they are suggesting.

Craig

[Goran Malmberg]

Originally Posted by Ntrprise

The idea is to get as much pressure crammed into the intake as possible, without creating unnecessary amounts of drag. The engine is quite small at 1.1 litre.

You have to speed a lot in order to take advantage of "ram air" theory.
The bigest idea is to get cool air in to the engine, and not heated under hood air. However, the air intake must be aerodynamically good anyway,
but a front motor car usually have som good spot to use.
Regards
Goran Malmberg

[johnny yuma]

I have read turbulence or buffeting are to be avoided,so I surmise that would dictate a "leading edge" intake somewhere.I recall F5000s having a massive scoop just above and behind the driver's head.Perhaps a smaller scoop could serve a motor much smaller and not create much drag.