Aerodynamics of Racing

The following series of experiments where designed to illustrate some of the more common terminology used to describe the effects of aerodynamics on a racing vehicle. Each laboratory experiment will illustrate how the air movement around one car affects the other cars that are nearby. Many of the terms used in this series of experiments are not scientific terms but racing jargon used to explain what is happening on the track. They are terms you would hear a TV announcer used to describe the action. Before starting the experiments it is suggested that you first make sure the center car in the wind tunnel mounted on the beam is level and at the correct height. To check for the car being level it is easiest to measure the front and rear of the cars side rocker panel height just behind the front tire and in front of the rear tire this readings should be the same. To adjust the levels apply a small amount of pressure to the front or rear of the car to lower it. To check for the proper height place a car in front of the center car with the two front bumpers facing each other. The two front bumpers should be at the same height. If not adjust the height of the center car as outlined in the operations manual. Do not attempt to line up the height of the front bumper to the rear bumper of another car. The rear bumpers of the cars are much higher than the front bumpers. Always use the wind tunnel Operations Check Sheet before operating the wind tunnel.

Slip Stream Drafting

This is one of the most common terms in racing. It happens when one car follows closely behind another car as uses the air flowing around and between the cars for an advantage. Procedure: Place the center car on the beam in the wind tunnel by itself. (Again verify the car is level and at the correct height). Operate the wind tunnel at or near maximum velocity and note the drag force on the center car. Make sure to record the test section velocity at the time the drag reading is taken. Save the data from the velocity taps on the vehicle. The most import pressure reading to note is the #1 tap in the front bumper. You will notice that the velocity is at or near zero. What you are reading is essentially the P-Total of the wind tunnel. Once you have taken all of the data shut down the wind tunnel. Place a car directly in front of the center car approximately in front of the center car. (Make sure the car is secularly fastened to the wind tunnel floor.) Run the wind tunnel at the same velocity during the first part of the experiment. Note the X Drag reading on the center car. Save the data from the pressure taps. Also note the reading on the #1 pressure tap. This is the key reading to explain why the drag reading changed. Write a brief report as to why the drag reading changed and why the pressure reading on tap #1 changed. How will the change affect the performance of the center car?

AERO LOOSE
This is a term used to describe what happens to the car in front when another car follows closely behind it. The car following closely behind will cause car in the front to become loose. (Loose is a slang term in racing to describe a car becoming less stable.) Probably the most noted incidence of this happening is in the unfortunate accident that took the life of famous racing driver Dale Ernhardt. Procedure: Place the center car in the wind tunnel by itself. Operate the wind tunnel and use the yarn attached to probe in the front of the wind tunnel to illustrate the airflow over the top of the car. Move the probe until the yarn is near the top of the cars hood. This can also be accomplished by tapping a short piece of yarn to the hood of the car. Make the yarn long enough to trail over the rear of the car. Note the position of the yarn in relation to the cars rear spoiler. The rear spoiler on the car is used to create down force on the rear of the car and aid in the traction of the rear tires. Try and make a visual approximation as to how close the yarn is coming to the top of the rear spoiler. Make a note of this distance. Turn off the wind tunnel. Place another car directly behind the center car inline with the center car. Make sure the car is securely fastened to the tunnel floor. Operate the wind tunnel and again use the probe and yarn to illustrate the airflow over the top of both cars. Note the height of the yarn above the spoiler of the center car. Turn off the wind tunnel. Write a report as to your findings. How would the handling of the center car be affected the by the car behind and why? Also what would be the affect of the car in the rear slightly tapping the rear end of the car in front?

Side Drafting
This term is used to describe one car pulling up along side of another car and using the air around the other car to its advantage. Procedure: Place a second car along the side of the center car in the wind tunnel. Position the second car so that the front bumper on the second car is even with the front bumper of the center car. Make sure the car is securely fastened to the floor. Run the wind tunnel near maximum velocity. Note both the X and Y axis drag readings and the tunnel velocity. Save the data from the pressure transducers. Turn off the wind tunnel. Move the side car approximately to the rear and repeat the data taken in the first part of the experiment. Keep moving the car at a time until the side car is approximately half way back along side of the center car. Pay particular attention to the data when the car on the sides front bumper is near the windshield pillar of the car in front. Write a report of your findings and how they would affect the performance of the car on the side.

Train or Pack Drafting

This term is used to describe what happens on super speedways when a group or Pack of cars running together in a line approach a car running by itself. This often happens when a car has to make an unscheduled pit stop and comes out ahead of a group of cars running together. Procedure: Place the center car in the test section by itself. Check the car for being level and at the correct height. Run the wind tunnel near maximum velocity. Record the X and Y drag forces noting the test section velocity at the time of the reading. Record the center cars velocities. Place a car directly in front of the center car. Make sure the car is securely fastened to the floor. Repeat the data procedures in the first step. Place a third car directly behind the center car. Make sure the car is securely fastened to the floor. Repeat the data taking procedures. Compare the drag forces on the center car and create a report on your findings. Explain the affect the Pack of cars will have versus a car running by itself.

Professors Notes:
The experiments above should conclude with the following results. If the students should get different results recheck the setup of the cars. These experiments are very sensitive to the center car being level and at the correct height. If the car is at an angle or the incorrect height it can affect the airflow over the car enough to change the results of the experiment. Slip Stream Drafting: By placing the car in front of the center car it creates a venturi between the front of the center car and the rear of the front car. The air flowing under the first car is drawn up between the cars therefore increasing the velocity and lowering the pressure in front of the car. The expected results are an approximately 20% reduction in drag in the X direction on the center car with a 1.5 water negative pressure on the #1 pressure tap. Aero Loose: When the second car is placed behind the center car the air will tend to flow over the roofs of both cars and not flow down over the rear spoiler of the front car. The yarn should measure approximately above the spoiler with the car in the test section by itself. When the second car is placed behind it the yarn will measure approximately 1 above the rear spoiler. The affect is that it reduces the down-force created by the rear spoiler of the car thus causing the rear end of the car to be Loose. Side Drafting: The air flowing around the front of the center car will leave the car in a V pattern. When the side cars front bumper reaches near the windshield pillar of the center car the front of the side car will be in the wake of the air leaving the front car. The side cars drag will drop as if the center car was in front of the side car. Race car drivers use this to side drafting to gain and advantage to pass the car in front. Train or Pack Drafting: By placing the car in the front it will drop the drag on the center car by approximately 20%. When the third car is placed behind the center car the drag will drop even further. The center car will be in an air pocket between the two cars. The result is that the cars running in a pack will be able to run down the car running by itself and pass it rather quickly. The only hope the lone car has is to be able to fall in line behind the pack of cars and hope to eventually pass them.