Wing regulations

[Tony_Simpson]

For my final year project I am modeling a wing section in ground effect. As part of this I am trying to get a real life basis for it.

I read somewhere that most uk circuit regulations have a 40mm ground clearance rule. I was wondering if that is the case and where I could get the/a regulation number/code for it.

Also I am planning to model the wing at the current F1 front wing ride height. I have looked at the official FIA web page for the rule on the front wing ride height and found no referance to it. I belive it is 100mm, but I am not so sure. If you know what it actually is or where to get it from then I would be very grateful.

Thanks for any help you could give me, any any one else interested in wing sections.

[Flatjack]

Good project I done something similar to that last year where are you studying?

I think you are right about the 40mm ground clearance for the UK circuits but I am not completely sure. However, I know that the F1 regulations are based not on clearance from the ground but from the reference plane and it is currently no less than 100mm above this height. The height of the reference plane is dictated by the team but they have to have their skid block under the reference plane and that has to be 10mm and can't be warn more than 1mm.

For more information on the technical regulations on the f! Cars go to

http://www.fia.com/homepage/selection-a.html

Hope that is of help.

[Flatjack]

from this link follow:

Technical and Sporting regulations

Technical regulations

texts

and look at the body work section

[Tony_Simpson]

Thanks for replying so quick. I am at Oxford Brookes University by the way, where were you studying from?

Thanks for the link to the fia page, that is where I got the idea from that the F1 front wing was 100 mm from the ground, although this value does seem small. Why do the rule makers make it so tricky for us to understand these rules. But that is why the top engineers get paid so well. oh well time to find out what the referance plane is, if I can find it that is.

[Flatjack]

Oxford brooks that is good they have a direct link to arrows I think. I take it you want to you want to go into aerodynamics? I done my degree at Kingston and I am having a hard time of getting a job at the moment.

You should find the rules state the reference plane quite clearly.

If I can find the 40mm ground rule I will let you know as I need to find it for a car that I am designing at the moment anyway.

Are you involved the formula student team or any other motor racing team because that will play a big part in getting into a race team.

The other thing is to get a lot of experience in 3D cad modelling like Catia, ideas, unigraphics or something along those lines.

Will you be doing any CFD in your research?

I would be very interested in knowing more about what your project requires and may be able to help with some information for you.

speak to you soon

Dion

[Tony_Simpson]

I was involved with the Formula Student team last year, but decided not to do my project this year on it. I am involved with the Formula Brookes motor club, I am on the committee there.

I am using Ansys Flowtran atthe moment for my cfd, with a possibility that I we can use Fluent, I think next term. At the moment I am keeping the same wing profile for the whole project. Using a single element wing at a 10mm, 40 mm and 100mm (TBC), ride heights to show how ground effect works. I will then do the same for a duel element and multi element wing, each time showing how ground effect works, the wing that creates the most lift/drag etc.

Hope you find some work soon, and you have reminded me to start to look for some work now. Should be fun with 60 people on my course.

Cheers for your hel, Flatjack, and if I find the 40mm rule I will pass on where I got it.

[THR]

The 40mm rule and all the other body work rules are found in the MSA Blue Book.

Some series in the UK are allowed to run on the ground tho. But only the plank, jsut like F1 really (FRenault and BOSS)

All the F1 regs are on the FIA site like youve said.
If you search the net you probs find an old story about the changes in height and then you wont have to read all the FIA stuff.

[Flatjack]

What chord length are you using for the wing that you are testing.

MIRA have an international aerodynamics conference and there was a PHD done on wings in ground effect it is only for a single element but I found it of great use.

My email address is flatjack@cableinet.co.uk

If you mail me I can give you loads of info for your research.

Dion