Designing a F1 Model Car for Optimal Speed

[Beaujolais]

Hi this is my first post here, I am just looking for some advice on designing a F1 model car. Like what the best possible shape for a Formula 1 car could be (Less drag and other factors which may effect its speed). The model car will be propelled forward by a Co2 Canister and will be and a straight track . It is only around 230mm in length and 50mm in width . To be designed on solidworks.

Thanks.

 

[Cyrus]

I think this would be the best shape:

http://www.blognroll.net/content/binary/2006_Team_McLaren_Mercedes-.jpg

 

[turbo]

wrong. The car is going to be propelled by a CO2 cartridge. Why would it need air intakes, and other stuff associated with ICE technology? That sucker has got to be light, lean, and sleek.

 

[Beaujolais]

Yea your right turbo those air intakes would slow it down soooo much . What about that same car but with the air intakes edited off or something? or would that effect the rest of the car's aerodynamics?

 

[brewnog]

F1 aerodynamics aren't designed to minimise drag for high speed, they're designed for optimum downforce for cornering, which greatly increases drag.

 

[Beaujolais]

What is the best possibly design for a F1 car with a front and rear spoiler powered by a Co2 canister on a straight track then?

 

[brewnog]

Well what are your objectives?

My design (given "CO2 canister power" and "straight track" as my only design constraints) would be a buggy made of balsa wood and wire, with enough wheels to hold onto the track to keep it straight. Aerodynamics wouldn't even feature except for some simple nozzle to direct the flow backwards.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

Ironically, an optimized model of an F1 car wouldn't necessarily have the same shape as a full-size F1 car either. The aerodynamic effects at work do not scale linearly with size, and neither does the speed the car will be traveling at. As was mentioned, an F1 car is also optimized for lots of downforce, to aid in cornering.

For a drag car going straight on track and propelled by a "jet" in the back, I suspect your optimum solution would be light; as light as you can possibly make it. As for shape, probably something close to a jet dragster would be best. Depending on the length of the race, and the speed achieved, it's possible the aerodynamics would even take a back-seat when compared to the overall weight of the vehicle.

http://www.superchevyshow.com/driverbios/billdempsey2006.jpg

 

[tormund]

wrong. The car is going to be propelled by a CO2 cartridge. Why would it need air intakes, and other stuff associated with ICE technology? That sucker has got to be light, lean, and sleek.

the intakes would enable the air to go through instead of around the car, enabling there to be less drag, hence making it faster

 

[minger]

the intakes would enable the air to go through instead of around the car, enabling there to be less drag, hence making it faster

The air will still have to go around whatever CO2 cartridge is pushing the car. In that case, its better if the air goes around the car rather than "through" the body, then split at the rear going around the cartridge.

 

[turbo]

Mech Engineers suggestion is just what the doctor ordered. Light, lean, and sleek. Wings, spoilers, air intakes, etc would all result in extra turbulence and drag.

 

[Kbonga]

You don't need all the down force of an F1 car. you are going in a striaght line. you need less weight as earlier stated.

 

[mgb_phys]

F1 aerodynamics aren't designed to minimise drag for high speed, they're designed for optimum downforce for cornering, which greatly increases drag.

Cd for an F1 car is sometimes >1 depending on the circuit, twice as bad as a Hummer!

 

[Danger]

I just want to check as to whether the CO2 is being used as a rocket or running through some sort of turbine and gearbox to the axle.
If the former, then I would still recommend creating as much downforce as possible. Those suckers have one hell of a lot of energy. I remember once wedging one between the slats of a corn crib and shooting the cap off with a .22 rifle. The instant result was a cloud of ice crystals, and then I spotted the cartridge about 200 ft. in the air, climbing at over 60° and moving like greased bacon through a goose's a$$. It went at least a mile... probably more. Keeping something like that on the ground won't be easy.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

I just want to check as to whether the CO2 is being used as a rocket or running through some sort of turbine and gearbox to the axle.
If the former, then I would still recommend creating as much downforce as possible. Those suckers have one hell of a lot of energy.

You're correct tha model CO2 dragsters are hard to keep on the ground, but maximum downforce isn't really the solution. You need to pay close attention to the height of the CG of your car relative to the CO2 cartridge's nozzle. Also, longer cars are more stable at high speed.

Depending on what kind of track this thing is going on, you'll have to balance a trade-off between weight, length, and aerodynamic stability (you don't want to generate lift, esepecially in the front end). Most CO2 dragster tracks I've seen also have the car on a wire or string to keep it on the track, because it's basically impossible to keep them going straight otherwise...

 

[Danger]

Wow... it never occurred to me that someone has done this before. I thought that it was just an off-the-wall experiment.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

Wow... it never occurred to me that someone has done this before. I thought that it was just an off-the-wall experiment.

I made a CO2 dragster in the Boy Scouts, but obviously didn't do much in the way of design optimization. They were pretty fun to watch because they usually crashed fantastically at the end of the track

See for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CO2_dragster

 

[Kbonga]

I don't know much about these cars, but you may just need some kind of counter weight of the CO2 cartrage. I understand weight is a big factor so this might not be good advice.

 

[tormund]

Mech Engineers suggestion is just what the doctor ordered. Light, lean, and sleek. Wings, spoilers, air intakes, etc would all result in extra turbulence and drag.

so ur saying it wuold be more efficient to built a cucumber with wheels?

 

[Kbonga]

I agree least skin friction as possible...also distribute more weight to the front for more downward force and counter weight

 

[swraman]

Lower aerodynamic drag -> minimize frontal area, or area you can see from the front view of the car.

 

[Ranger Mike]

ifin you want to go fast and straight
look at Bonneville
the land speed boys already done it
F1 is fer gonnin fast and left and right
drag racing is fer short burst over 1/4 mile
i think you need the aero of a lakester

 

[F1PROJECT]

Is this for a school project.
F1 inschools design