Formula 1 Race Car Aerodynamics: Understanding Floor Flow Structures and Why It Is a Key Component in Modern Racing

Abstract

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper delves into the intricate realm of Formula 1 race car aerodynamics, focusing on the pivotal role played by floor flow structures in contemporary racing. The aerodynamic design of the floor of a Formula 1 car is a fundamental component that connects the flow structures from the front wing to the rear end of the car through the diffuser, thus significantly influencing the generation of lift and drag. In this work, CFD was used to predict the structure of the vortices and flow pattern underneath a Formula 1 car using a CAD model that mimicked the modern Red Bull Racing Team’s car in recent years. Through comprehensive analysis and simulation, a detailed understanding of the complex flow patterns and aerodynamic phenomena occurring beneath the floor of the car and its vicinity is presented. This entails a close examination of how air interacts with the floor of the car and how the flow around the car can be manipulated to alter the flow rate and the quality of air going into the diffuser, generating crucial insights into the underlying principles at play. Finally, special attention was focused on the tire squish area and the resulting structures affecting the diffuser. Vortex structures were illustrated utilizing volume renders of vorticity and velocity in the domain, alongside Velocity-based Line Integral Convolution (LIC) total pressure contours at the diffuser. The assessment was carried out for three different speeds of 30 <i>m/s</i>, 50 <i>m/s</i>, and 90 <i>m/s</i> with two different ride heights for each speed. This research aims to shed light and understand the critical factors that engineers and designers consider when optimizing Formula 1 race car aerodynamics, how different geometric elements interact, and why it is considered a difference maker in modern racing.</div></div>