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Originally Posted by Casper
F1 does not need aero assistance, they have just convinced themselves and others that they do. It came about by chance and everyone in F1 blindly followed. Granted the cars would be a lot lot lot slower but I bet the racing would be more interesting if mechanical grip was the primary source of adhesion. The rabbit is out of the box and headed up the cul de sac and every few years someone bleats loud enough, the rules get changed and the result is usually worse or no better.
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Introducing regulations similar to Formula Ford is certainly something F1 could consider.
The Formula Ford regulations say this:
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12.1 Bodywork:
(a) Any device designed to aerodynamically augment the downforce on the vehicle is prohibited. These devices specifically include aerofoils, venturi tunnels, skirts, nose fins and spoilers of any kind.
(b) Integration of aerofoils and spoilers by design or the mismatching of bodywork and/or chassis panels
and members is also prohibited.
(c) The bodywork must totally enclose the engine inlet manifold and filter with an opening for the passage of air.
(d) The uppermost surface of the bodywork must not extend more than 25mm above the top surface of the rollover hoop. See additional note in Table of Dimensions, Appendix A.
(e) The upper rear bodywork (located above the wheel centerline) is permitted to extend rearwards for a maximum of 375mm from a line drawn through the rear wheel axis. The maximum height at any part wider than 1100mm ahead of the front wheels is not to exceed the front wheel rim height.
(f) The shape of the bodywork behind a vertical line drawn from the highest point of the roll-over bar must not include any reflex curves or flat surfaces which are capable of augmenting downforce.
(g) The lower rear bodywork (located below the wheel centreline) is only permitted alongside and beneath the engine and may only extend from behind the cockpit to a line drawn through the rear wheel axis.
(h) The incorporation of suspension or other fairings in this bodywork is prohibited.
(i) It is not permitted to construct any suspension member in the form of an aerofoil or to incorporate a spoiler in the construction of any suspension member. The use of suspension fairings separate from this bodywork is prohibited.
(j) The use of composite materials using carbon fibre reinforcement is prohibited.
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https://www.formulaford.org.au/technical
At about 200 words, the Formula Ford bodywork rules are about 1/100th the length of the 2022 Formula One bodywork rules.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casper
my hatred of aero is starting to show.
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Why you hate aerodynamics? Without humans having some understanding of (steady-state) aerodynamics, planes that fly couldn't be made. It takes some level of wind tunnel testing and optimisation to make sufficiently efficient aerofoil profiles.
Our understanding of the non-steady-state aerodynamics and hyrodynamics used by birds/insects and fish to fly and swim respectively, is actually not that great on the other hand. That's more related to deliberately stalling the wing/tail fin and releasing vortex cores in order to produce a momentary surge in lift or thrust respectively (more lift or thrust than could be obtained with a steady-state wing or sail).
With respect to motor vehicles, it's simple physics that the friction force of the tyre is F = (Normal force)*friction coefficient. Where the normal force on the tyre is of course equal to the corner weight + downforce. If you can increase the normal force on the tyre and thus traction of the tyre
without increasing the actual weight of the vehicle, it is only logical to do so!
Increasing the weight of the vehicle to increase traction is obviously undesirable, since F=ma, and more mass makes a car accelerate slower both longitudinally and laterally for a given longiditudinal or lateral force. Doing it using air pressure instead is surely 'terribly clever'? After all air pressure alone is enough to lift a 400 tonne Boeing 747 off the ground, so why not harness it on a motor vehicle too?
[PS. I'm with the folks who believe Gustave Whitehead may have made the first powered flight, his knowledge of gliders and his knowledge of building lightweight engines make it seem more likely he achieved it first. The Wright Brothers flyer on the other hand was a bit of deathtrap, and has caused nothing but trouble & injury for those who have built replicas -- it's a very unstable craft compared to the Whitehead craft.]
PPS. There's still some aerodynamic development in Formula Ford. It's obviously about minimising the drag of your bodywork design, to give the least possible slipstream to your competitors.