McLaren MP4-29 Mercedes

[turbof1]

They're called tubercles, developed by Mother Nature several million years ago in the Miocene as an adaptation on the pectoral fins of humpback whales that increases their maneuverability.

http://i.imgur.com/2jKluQx.jpg

Used on an airfoil, they make it more efficient by inhibiting spanwise flow (for increased lift/downforce), which also reduces the strength of tip vortices (less drag). They apparently delay stall as well, so it'll be interesting to see how the development affects McLaren's DRS.

http://i.imgur.com/GhaExiB.jpg

Source: I just looked this --- up.

The problem is that on the whales they are on the leading edge of the fins. Here they are on the trailing edge of the first wing element. Means that they can't work the same.

They aren't exactly whales either. Else we had restrictions on organic aerodynamics.

I think the principle still is appliable.

[trinidefender]

The problem is that on the whales they are on the leading edge of the fins. Here they are on the trailing edge of the first wing element. Means that they can't work the same.

I think you missed the tubercles on the leading edge of the flap.

http://i.imgur.com/Z7O85A9.jpg

You are correct. In the pics before I only saw them on the trailing edge on the first element. Just noticed that they are on the leading edge of the DRS element as well.

Seeing it like this I would think that they do function similarly as on the whales but because they are so close they must interact with each other. What exactly happens when they interact interests me.

[bhall II]

...What exactly happens when they interact interests me.

Me, too. I imagine the action of the trailing edge tubercles on the main plane is twofold: they increase the efficiency of the main plane, just like on the Pescarolo, and they act upon the underside of the flap. It would then seem the leading edge tubercles on the flap act on the top of the flap.

The idea that they help flow reattach when DRS is disengaged is compelling. But, wouldn't that also mean they reduce the efficacy of DRS?

[Thunder]

Someone over at the Autosport Forum posted this.



Edit: And some more from AMuS....

Old


New

[gary123]

source F1passion.it

[bhall II]

I think the tubercles are meant for good, ol' fashioned downforce. We've seen teams up and down the grid trial a variety of solutions to deal with this season's downforce cuts, from Red Bull's early experiments with slot-loss rear wing end plates to Ferrari's extreme rear wing camber and AoA, even though such solutions, by nature, increase drag.

If the tubercles can help keep air flow attached - in that sense, think of them as blunt vortex generators - then McLaren can run higher AoA for more downforce without the risk of stalling the wing.

[boyracer94]

I knew I'd seen this concept applied to F1 somewhere before:
http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewto ... &start=390

I intend to work in aerodynamics, im only 17.

Here is a picture of the beam wing and the ris, with the humpback whale inspired leading edge:


I think this is legal as i think the 100mm radius rule is in a longitudinal plane

"It seems the bumps have the effect of channeling air into smaller areas of the blade, resulting in a higher wind speed through the channels and a number of rotating airflows on top of the blade which increase lift. Furthermore, the bumps eliminate the tendency of air to run down the length of the blade's edge and fly off at the tip, causing noise, instability and a loss of efficiency."
source: http://www.gizmag.com/bumpy-whale-fins- ... mics/9020/

[f1rules]

some pics

http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 8311.4.jpg
http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 559.87.jpg
http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 790.77.jpg

is this ultra violet flowvis or
http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 891.43.jpg

[f1rules]

one more, this time from danish media

http://www.bt.dk/sites/default/files-dk ... 21-518.jpg

[trinidefender]

Are they still using the "L" shaped slot in the floor in front of the rear tyre that looks very similar to the red bull one? Was introduced in silverstone

[f1rules]

yes they are, seems everything they bring at the moment works, so thats a positive

[Absolutelee]

I'm having trouble seeing if the tubercles on the two wings line up, or alternate. What I mean is if you held the two edges together would the tips touch and leave holes in between or would the match up like a zipper?

[JDC123]

I'm having trouble seeing if the tubercles on the two wings line up, or alternate. What I mean is if you held the two edges together would the tips touch and leave holes in between or would the match up like a zipper?

I think they may be alternate like a 'zipper'.

[JimClarkFan]

I see the butterfly suspension has 4 elements once again

[stefan_]

Germany 2014 - Friday (19.07.2014)