At my school i am doing a project on aerodynamics and can anybody help me, as i would like to know what the most aerodynamic shape is for a car? what is the most aerodynamic production car is? and what the most aerodynamic racing car is?
Most aerodynamic car...no one can really say but, Ford Probe III which turned into the Ford Sierra, drag coeffiecient of around 0.28, I think. Mercedes, Audi, BMW etc have fairly low Cd around 0.32 down to 0.27 ish.
Tear drop shape is supposedly aerodynamic, the aerofoil/wing shape can create lift and downforce depends which way round it is used.
As for racing cars old syle Group C cars, Porsche 956/962s, the Jaguar XJR6 upwards, Mercedes C9, C11, C291 etc also further back was the original Porsche 917 "Langheck" Touring cars have low drag but also low downforce.
Racing car manufacturers really care more about the lift to drag ratio, more negative lift (downforce) against low drag.
Hope this helps, I could quote more figures at you if I had my reference material round me.
Most aerodynamic shape for a car? Do you mean what shape is most efficient for sustained straight line speed? Simplified, (side-on) it's a low-profile teardrop that is high enough off the ground to avoid the airflow bouncing off the undeside of the car and into the ground with a vertical fin to aid stability. (head-on) it's the smallest area that has to headbutt the air out of the way. (plan view) teardrop. The rear of the car should form a point.
Aerodynamic production cars? 1984 Audi 100 kinda pioneered detail aerodynamics; although it looked a bit of a brick it had a low drag co-efficient due to flush glazing/door frames, retracting headlamp washers and grille slats sculpted to provide excellent cooling and aerodynamic efficiency. Most aerodynamic production car that springs to mind is the 1990 Vauxhall Calibra; sleek, soft and simple. Also look at the Mazda Xedos 6.
Most aerodynamic racing car? What you racing? How long's a piece of string?
Anyway, I ain't gonna do your homework for ya, look at www.cardesignonline.com : theres a section on aero.
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Bloody hell! Low drag thats all you need! Why did you lead us through all of that? It really doesn't matter for the speeds you get up to in those kinda cars!
At Knockhill, you can run full race cars without bodywork and still set a respectable lap time, just skin it with a lightweight, low drag body, no need for wings or any other aerodynamic devices.
For aerodynamic shapes, buddy, check the airplanes and the submarines... you will find the key for that on these kind of transportations systems... some time ago, the drop shape was used for getting aerodynamics shapes.
Managing air over and under the car is straight forward but the biggest challenge is guiding the air around the vehicle. The shape of extruding parts can affect some sort of dynamic of the car. The side mirrors make up the frontal area of the car and should be designed with functionality. One of the best examples is the Ferrari F430 which allows air to pass through the two stanchions through the middle into the air intake for the engine.
"The sports car is athlete. An athlete is not a body builder. The Porsche 911 is an athlete." "Nothing in a Lamborghini interior must distract the driver. It's like listening to a great symphony" "A Lamborghini must be like a glove: the driver is the hand that sets it in motion" "We can't underestimate the evolution of techology and remain tied to the past" Luc Donkerwolke, Chief Designer, Lamborghini s.p.A.
'We don't build the GT3 for bad drivers,' Andreas Preuninger, Project Manager High Performance Cars: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
Hello Aerodynamics:branch of fluid mechanics that deals with the motion of air and other gaseous fluids, and with the forces acting on bodies in motion relative to such fluids. The motion of an airplane through the air, the wind forces exerted on a structure, and the operation of a windmill are all examples of aerodynamic action.Meanwhile you should know that each shape that be more similar to spindle is more Aerodynamic. U can send me mail for more details.I can introduce you a good reference to learn Aerodynamics as a pro.
