Designing an aerodynamic undertray for a Formula style racecar

Using CFD analysis, a master's student discovers an effective design for the undertray of a Formula SAE racecar.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN THE EARLY 1900s, motorsport has become part of popular culture, with today's auto competitions ranging from Formula racing, rallying, and sports car racing to stock car racing. Despite the high-performance engines in competitive motorsports vehicles, it is the aerodynamic devices and streamlined design of these cars that enable them to move through air smoothly, reducing drag and maintaining traction.

As part of his master's research project, Obinna H. Ehirim was tasked with improving the aerodynamic design of an FSAE car by finding the diffuser angle of an undertray that would generate maximum downforce, using Cornell University's ARg10 car as a model.