Aerodynamic Study of the Wake Effects on a Formula 1 Car

Alex Guerrero,Robert Castilla

doi:10.3390/en13195183

Abstract

The high complexity of current Formula One aerodynamics has raised the question of whether an urgent modification in the existing aerodynamic package is required. The present study is based on the evaluation and quantification of the aerodynamic performance on a 2017 spec. adapted Formula 1 car (the latest major aerodynamic update) by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis in order to argue whether the 2022 changes in the regulations are justified in terms of aerodynamic necessities. Both free stream and flow disturbance (wake effects) conditions are evaluated in order to study and quantify the effects that the wake may cause on the latter case. The problem is solved by performing different CFD simulations using the OpenFoam solver. The significance and originality of the research may dictate the guidelines towards an overall improvement of the category and it may set a precedent on how to model racing car aerodynamics. The studied behaviour suggests that modern F1 cars are designed and well optimised to run under free stream flows, but they experience drastic aerodynamic losses (ranging from −23% to 62% in downforce coefficients) when running under wake flows. Although the overall aerodynamic loads are reduced, there is a fuel efficiency improvement as the power that is required to overcome the drag is smaller. The modern performance of Ground Effect by means of vortices management represent a very unique and complex way of modelling modern aerodynamics, but at the same time notably compromises the performance of the cars when an overtaking maneuver is intended.

Highlights

IntroductionIt has been openly stated that F1 has lost much of its spectacular nature due to the difficulty of the cars in being able to follow each other closely for a long period of time
For many years, it has been openly stated that F1 has lost much of its spectacular nature due to the difficulty of the cars in being able to follow each other closely for a long period of time.The sophisticated aerodynamics of these single-seater cars has compromised the chasing of the leading car
The main contribution and goal of this paper is to evaluate, study, and numerically quantify the aerodynamic performance of a 2017 spec. adapted F1 car under free stream conditions and wake flows with the purpose of being able to argue whether the 2022 changes in the regulations are somehow justified in terms of aerodynamic necessities

Summary

Introduction

It has been openly stated that F1 has lost much of its spectacular nature due to the difficulty of the cars in being able to follow each other closely for a long period of time. The sophisticated aerodynamics of these single-seater cars has compromised the chasing of the leading car (mostly due to the turbulent wake generation and clearly disturbed flow [1]). A significant number of investigations has been performed, both conducted by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) or Formula One teams and by other sources of investigation. The obtained results show interesting vorticity behaviours and the Energies 2020, 13, 5183; doi:10.3390/en13195183 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

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