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Post by mikael on Jul 27, 2022 21:38:03 GMT
Just some thoughts initiated by JC's comments on the problems related to the return to employment of ground effect.
I imagine that all the ground effect-related problems appear since at any time, more and more downforce is seeked - the more the better. No team is ever satisfied. If a limit on the downforce was imposed (maximum so-and-so-many kgf downforce) - just like there now is a limit on the fuel flow - then many (if not all) problems could be eliminated. Because then the "trick" would be to generate the allowable level of downforce with as little induced drag as possible. And the induced drag is related directly to the production of "dirty air" - so that would be minimized.
The produced downforce could easily be monitored, by monitoring (i) the tyre pressure (in all tyres); and (ii) the deflection/compression of the springs. (The deflection-load characteristics of the springs and the pressure-load characteristics of the tyres for each car should be known (by FIA) on beforehand, before the race.)
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Post by robmarsh on Jul 28, 2022 8:56:57 GMT
Mikael I think you should submit your CV to the F1 technical working group so we can get some sensible regulations.
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Post by charleselan on Jul 28, 2022 10:09:14 GMT
Although not quite the same as Mikael's excellent idea I had come up with something similar when in connexion to my rant on porpoising and ground clearance. My idea of illuminating porpoising was simply to increase the ground clearance (the two are related), make it mandatory to have a determined ground clearance and police it with the use if sensors under the car. They could make the cars run much higher which is a better thing and as Mikael suggest it reduces the downforce incrementally. Ok there are issues to resolve like running over curbs etc but great minds etc!!
In fact this was the issue that brought about the change in regulations in 1981 that all cars had to have prescribed hight measurement and were measured in the pit lane, sadly the powers that be did not bargain for clever clogs Gorgon Murray who came up with the notorious pneumatic suspension system that allowed the driver to lower the var down once on track. Hence we got the "Flat bottom" regs if 1983.
Ground Efect also brought about Colin Chapman's very clever Lous 88 which ran with basically two chassis, eg. the main chassis containing the driver and mechanical part and the other containing the bodywork. This allowed the body to be sprung very stiffly and the driver to have more suspension movement which overcame the unsuspended driver section. Unfortunately banned by the FIA as the separate body was classified as a moveable aerodynamic device and it is doubtful that Chapman ever overcame that fact.
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