Downforce

The contact pressure is an addition to the weight acting perpendicular to the road motor sports cars, supercars and racing cars. It is generated by negative dynamic lift. In motorsports, the English term downforce is often used. As aerodynamic effect of the pressure is dependent on the speed with respect to the ambient air. It increases at a higher speed.

An increased pressure allows higher cornering limit speed, because it increases the ( pressure-sensitive) friction of the tires on the road - the front wheels can transmit greater lateral forces to the road. Also, the rear wheels rotate at high speeds through because of air resistance then rises sharply - the transfer of an equivalent propulsive force needed the best possible connection of the tires on the road. Therefore, designers attempt to create the pressure by design measures targeted or strengthen. These include:

  • Front or rear wing,
  • Negative ground effect (smooth underbody )
  • Diffuser can, together with the smooth underbody an "inverted airfoil ", or
  • Other aerodynamic measures (eg venturi channels rare).

A spoiler on the other hand is an air deflector or diverter and produces no negative aerodynamic lift, but it interferes with the buoyancy that generates the air flow around the body of a car, or otherwise engages in the car's aerodynamics.

Formula 1

Formula 1 vehicles developed more downforce than its own weight. At 240 km / h, Formula 1 racing car reaches eg 16 kN take-off ( at a value of 0.93 ), thus 2.7 times its weight of 620 kg ( vehicle including the driver ). The car could thus probably " drive on the ceiling ", but he needs the extra pressure also to overcome air resistance. The racing car reaches a possible lateral acceleration of 3.7 g, with a coefficient of static friction of 1.8, a lateral acceleration of 4.5 g

The following table refers to the model Ferrari F1 -2000 from the year 2000:

Pictures of Downforce

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