In the conclusion to our month long look at the aerodynamic elements of modern day road and race cars, we will be looking at some of the accompanying elements that help the main aero devices do their jobs. If you haven’t read about these devices, you can take a look at the last three articles in this series: Part 1: the front splitter, Part 2: the rear wing, and Part 3: the rear diffuser. These three devices all work in harmony to achieve the maximum possible downforce with the least amount of drag. Sometimes, however, these elements need help directing air over them in the most efficient way. (continue reading…)

This is the third installment of our look at aerodynamics in cars. Part 1 was about the front splitter, Part 2 was about the rear wing, and today’s article will focus on the rear diffuser. The rear diffuser is used to shape and decelerate airflow from underneath the car. It was the cause of much controversy at the beginning of the 2009 F1 season, with Toyota, Williams, and Brawn GP having a so-called double diffuser that was assumed by the other teams to be outside of the rules. The double diffuser was allowed and made the 2009 spec F1 cars produce significantly more down force than the previous year’s spec. It is used in most forms of racing, on both prototype and GT class Le Mans cars and most formula cars, in addition to high performance sports cars. (continue reading…)

Last week I talked about the front splitter and its effect. The splitter is much more inconspicuous than what is on the plate for today: the rear wing. The rear wing does exactly what a wing on an airplane would do, just upside down. In 1738, a plucky young Dutch/Swiss mathematician published a book the explained the fundamental principle of speed to pressure ratios. Daniel Bernoulli observed that when water in pipes with a large diameter transitioned to pipes with a smaller diameter, the pressure would increase in the smaller pipe. Many years later, Bernoulli’s principle was applied to the airfoil; stating that when air flowed over a wing shape a pressure differential was created causing lift. (continue reading…)

Supercars are fast. That’s a fact that most of us know very well. Why, though, do the faster cars have to have all of the aggressive body work that they do? The answer is aerodynamics, and it’s two pronged approach to tackling the dilemma of making a car produce less friction as it cuts through the air and making the car heavier and more stable. For the next several weeks, check back on Fridays to get a more thorough understanding of all of the elements that car designers use to create these stunning vehicles. Today, we will start at the front of the car. (continue reading…)