Aerodynamic Cars

What does aerodynamic

means?
Aerodynamics is the study of moving
gases (in this case air) over a body in
motion, and how that airflow will
affect the body's movement through
the flow. Car aerodynamics make the
car more safer and make it more fuel
efficient. It is used in most of the cars
today specially in race cars because
there is more need of aerodynamics
in high speeds cars.

HISTORY OF EVOLUTION OF
AERODYNAMICS IN CARS
Designs in early 20th century:
cars with low speeds, no aerodynamic problems.

Cars in the early 50s:

cars designed for big familys , complete negligence
of aerodynamics.

Cars after 70s:

fuel crisis , need of economic designs , evolution of
aerodynamics.

WHY WE NEED TO IMPROVE

AERODYNAMICS IN CARS
SPEED
better aerodynamics higher will be
the speeds.
FUEL EFFICIENCY
better aerodynamics , less work for
engine.

AERODYNAMIC FORCES ON A BODY

LIFT
(DOWNFORCE)
DRAG
WEIGHT
THRUST

What is the down force?

The term down force describes the
downward pressure created by the
aerodynamic characteristics of a car that
allows it to travel faster through a corner by
holding the car to the track or road surface.
However it also inverses friction between the
tires and the road surface, thus decreasing
maximum velocity.
Its a force which arises due to the airflow over
and below the car, which act vertically
downward on the car.

Aerodynamics in F1
Aerodynamics is the single most
important aspect of F1 car design. It
defined not only the entire shape of
the car, but also the positioning of all
items within it, like the engine,
gearbox and driver.

Various Parts of a F1 Car

Front wing effect on aerodynamics

of a F1 car
The front wing is important because it is the
first part of the car that makes contact with
the air.
It affects the airflow in the full length of the car
and even tiny changes can have huge effects
on the overall performance.
Front wing is one of the elements that is used
for down force because it creates high
pressure area on top and hence large amount
of down force.

Rear Wing
The rear wing helps glue the rear wheels
to the track, but it also can hugely
increases drag (air residence against the
body of the car). But designers are
constantly working to use as little angle of
incidence on the rear wing as possible
without harming overall performance.

BARGE BOARDS

Barge boards, or turning vanes, smooth

out and separate the air that has been
disrupted by the front wheels. They
separate the flow into two parts - one is
directed into the side pods to cool the
engine; the other is diverted outside to
reduce drag.

Diffuser
The diffuser, or floor, is designed to
ensure the smoothest exit for the air
that is flowing under the car.
Designers come up with a huge
variety of complicated shapes
because the quicker the air exits, the
more down force the car generates,
and the faster it will be.

SPOILER

SPOILER
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose
intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavourable air
movement across a body of a vehicle in motion, usually
described as turbulence or drag. Spoilers on the front of
a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition
to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air
flowing underneath the vehicle which generally reduces
aerodynamic lift and drag. Spoilers are often fitted to
race and high-performance sports cars, although they
have become common on passenger vehicles as well.
Some spoilers are added to cars primarily for styling
purposes and have either little aerodynamic benefit or
even make the aerodynamics worse

Here are things that can be done to

reduce your vehicle's drag (air resistance):

1. Make the shape of the car so that air

flow together smoothly towards the
end of the car
2.Reduce the frontal area of the car by
minimizing the grill making sure that
windscreen is as flat as possible.
3.Cover the wheels.

Aerodynamics in fuel
economy
For a full-size truck, a change in drag
coefficient of 0.01 is approximately
equal to an improvement in fuel
economy of 0.1 mpg on the
combined city/highway driving cycle.
The same drag coefficient reduction
can improve a car's fuel economy by
approximately 0.2 mpg.

 Nissan Maxima 1998

before & after
aerodynamics changes.

THANK
YOU