need some input on wind resistance, what would work against the downforce? Options

[soulshadow]

I need to know what type of spoiler do you u guys suggest would be great on the downforce the wind carries. Also I need some exterior styling suggestions that would help make the celi go faster (Yes faster, not look good) against the wind.

Any useful info would be great. I was looking at some Aluminimum adjustable spoilers, but they seem like they stand out too much.

I want something that doesn't stand out (chrome, body kits), but instead help break wind resistance and make the celi turn faster, go faster and perform better.

[orvillescelica]

A proper rear wing will provide a surprising amount of downforce at 60mph. I think for our appilcations, you are not using the wing to push you to the ground as in F1 cars, but rather counteract the forces of lift that are being generated due to unbalanced pressure under the car and upward lift in the rear from the Kutta condition, a vortex generated due to seperation of the streamline airflow.

But this is all moot as you would not want a rear wing for our cars. Reason being that it would be unneccacarily be pushing on the rear, causing loads that youll need to just overcome with power. I bet it would be like sitting two people in the back at decent speeds.

Since you have a hatchback, i suggest that any raised spoiler, like the GT4, will do. The purpose of the spoiler is to promote reaatachment of the seperated airflow coming from the roof. This helps with drag as it channels overfowing air properly. So having it higher rather than lower helps, but not too high, or else it become a parasite drag element. Something that is as high as a bit below the roofline.



Have you ever seen those little trianlge pieces on the back of the roofs on Evos? Those are called Voretx generators. In wind tunnels the ideal diffuser angle so as to keep the flow attached and streamline and not turbulent is aroun 7 degrees. Sometimes thought you dont have the space or time for a 7 degree gradual slope, so you place vortex generators at the start of the diffusor to increase that angle up to 12 degrees. They work by forcing the air to seperate at that point, this creates clockwise vortcies that spiral toward the body. As the vortex spins, it draws in air above it to feed itself. This high momentum incoming air then pushes the airflow downward back onto the body allowing for a greater angle of decent than previously allowed. The trick is designing them to be the right size and shape. You want them to be the hieght of the boundary layer at that point. Any bigger and they will cause drag, and smaller and they wont do anything. Its a simple calculation that i can do for you if you want to PM me about it.

Lets see, what else. The canards as said above are a good idea. They channel air up, causing a reaction force down. Not a lot, but its something. Also though there is the trick of designing them properly. The ones you can buy are more for looks than specific function. A front splitter, an front underlip that exents outward, can help. It basically helps by keeping the stagnation point from being under the car. Due to the aerodynamic forces in the rear, the place where the air hits the forn of your car is a lot lower than you think, usually near the very bottom of the bumper, and sometimes even under the car at higher speeds. The front splitter just helps keep the air from getting under there, creating a force that pushes the car up.

I have some other crazy ideas, but none of them have been tested so unless you have a wind tunnel and a ton of time to experiment, i would just go with what has been proven to work.