What Speed Does Race Car Aerodynamics start to work?

[Spice52]

Hello All

Any idea what sort of speed the aerodynamics start to work on a race car?

I have always thought it to be around 60mph?

Say a part of the car is out in the open, a upright etc etc, or similar, should you bother to fair it in if your top speed reached is 100mph for a short time and the average speed is say only 70 mph?

Any clues would be great

Thanks lots for comments

Marcus

 

[Ashereng]

I'm not in aerodynamics in any sense, and this is probably not quite what you had in mind. However...I would have thought wind resistance starts pretty low - like above 0 mph. Walking (no where near 30 mph) I can feel drag if I don't zip up my jacket.

 

[GregLocock]

I'v measured aerodynamic effects at 40 mph.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Take a look at the fleet of solar and human powered vehicles. Clearly, a lot of smart young people (and their computers) think aero is important even at very low speeds. Contest results tend to support the assertion.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Spice52]

Thanks lots for your comments

Helpfull

Marcus

 

[Dave K]

The University of Missouri - Rolla did some low speed wind tunnel testing for their FSAE car a year or two ago. Their was a write up in Racecar Engineering (sept-ish 2004) on it. They disproved alot of the beliefs/myths that racecar aerodynamics only work at high speed.

http://campus.umr.edu/fsae/

-Dave
Everything should be designed as simple as possible, but not simpler.