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What Speed Does Race Car Aerodynamics start to work?

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Spice52

Spice52

Automotive
Jul 11, 2005
7
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
 
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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.

 
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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.
 
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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
 
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Thanks lots for your comments

Helpfull

Marcus
 
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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.


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