Description:

Across all forms of motorsport there are many rules which govern the design of a vehicle competing in a certain class. In Formula SAE, there are certain restrictions on the dimensions and positions for aerodynamic devices to be used. In order to maximise the efficiency of a rear wing, whilst staying within the rules, endplates have been used to try to eliminate any vortex effects generated by the rear wing.

 

Whilst the use of endplates reduces vortex generation, strong vortices are known to exist due to the pressure differential across the endplates. Many other Formula SAE teams use cut outs in the endplates called louvres designed to vent this pressure out the side through the endplate, increasing the efficiency of the rear wing by further reducing the vortex generated and also reducing drag in the process. This project will experimentally develop louvres to reduce drag generated by the enplates of the Formula SAE car, supported by numerical simulation.

Type:

Undergraduate

Outcome:

At the end of this project, you will be able to:

• Design a Wind Tunnel test for a large-scale test model.
• Understand the vortex generation process and what factors may reduce this.
• Develop suitable aerodynamic mitigators for vortex generation.

Prerequisites

At least one student must be from FSAE.

Specialisations

• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering

Categories

• Aero-Fluid-Hydrodynamics

Supervisor

• Nicholas Kay

Team

• David Pribis
• Vicente Wishart

Lab

Aerodynamics Lab (Newmarket 901 Lvl5, Lab)