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Measurement of Formula One Car Drag Forces on the Test Track
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English
Abstract
Coastdown testing is a proven method for determining the drag coefficients for road cars whilst the vehicle is in its normal operating environment. An accurate method of achieving this has been successfully developed at Loughborough University. This paper describes the adaptation and application of these techniques to the special case of a contemporary Formula One racing car. The work was undertaken in conjunction with the Benetton Formula One racing team.
The paper outlines the development and application of a suitable mathematical model for this particular type of vehicle. The model includes the aerodynamic, tyre, drivetrain and the un-driven wheel drags and accounts for the change in aerodynamic drag due to ambient wind and changes in vehicle ride height during the coastdown. The test and analysis methods are described.
The results from a series of coastdown tests conducted at a current Grand Prix circuit are presented and compared to the results from tyre rig and wind tunnel measurements.
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Citation
Crewe, C., Passmore, M., and Symonds, P., "Measurement of Formula One Car Drag Forces on the Test Track," SAE Technical Paper 962517, 1996, https://doi.org/10.4271/962517.Also In
References
- Passmore MA LeGood GM A detailed drag study using the coastdown method Society of Automotive Engineers Technical paper, SAE 940420 1994
- Yasin TP The analytical basis of automobile coastdown testing Society of Automotive Engineers Technical paper, SAE 780334 1978
- Passmore MA Jenkins EG Measuring vehicle drag forces using an on-board microcomputer Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 204 77 82 1990