Single / Twin / V Keel

[Ingsy]

I don't know much about the structure of an F1 one car, so can someone please explain what is meant by a single, twin or v Keel please?

Many thanks.

[Team27]

Keels are required due to modern F1 cars having rasied noses, they are situated underneath the nose and are where the lower wishbones are attached.

A single keel is the standard design and is a single pylon which hangs down from the centre of the underside of the nose. Its advantage is that it allows for long lower wishbones. A twin keel system is used to improve the aerodynamic flow underneath the front section of the chassis. The V keel is just another design of the twin keel i think, mainly used by Sauber a few years ago.

Hope thats helps

[Try Hard]

Team27's pretty much right.

The V-keel was used by renault this year, it was basically two thin sections joing in a V under the chassis, to which the lower wishbones mounted. Much like the Single keel, but better aerodynamically.

The biggest problem with the twin-keel setup is getting required stiffness into the keels, to stop them flexing under suspension loading. I remember with the MP4-17, they had to run a strut between the keels... kinda negated the clean airflow benifit...

Theres also the No-keel concept.... such as used by Mclaren on the MP4-20, and Toyota on the TF105B. This is where the suspension wishbones directly mount onto the chassis, allowing a clean underside. It's stiffer than the twin keel concept too, but alters the suspesnion geometry (hence the downsweep on the front wishbones of these two cars)

HiH
Ed

[TEAM78]

Originally Posted by Team27

The V keel is just another design of the twin keel i think, mainly used by Sauber a few years ago.

Have you got any pictures of this?

[nopanon]

Hi!

Check this link: http://www.gurneyflap.com/formule100's.html

No old Sauber, but many nice photos!

The pictures on the bottom from this years french gp show some different keel designs. Most seem single keel to me but the renault V and also a small glimpse of the mclaren solution.

[scarbs]

Here you go...

Scarbs....

Twin Keel (Last years williams version)


Single Keel (this years BAR)


V Keel (This years Renault)



No Keel (this years toyota B spec car)

Nb Note the actual single keel was retained but used for mountign the suspension, McLarens no keel design was a purer version.

[TEAM78]

Thanks Scarbs. a picture says a thousand words

[Ingsy]

Thanks very much everyone