JonoNic wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:14 pm
godlameroso wrote: ↑Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:04 pm
There's a thread in the aero forum where someone proposed that disturbing the rear aero of a car by following closely affects the front aero of leading car. I'm inclined to agree, particularly with how many tiny vortex generators on the Mercedes.
I agree with godlameroso. In Nascar, with two cars following each other, the car behind can cause the car in front to understeer if he tucks his front splitter under the rear bumper of the front car. So if that can happen to a Nascar with 'primitive' aero then the effect would be similar for two F1 cars following closely.
Simple explanation, then back on topic:
If the second car is following closely enough, then the pressure difference of the first car front/rear decreases.
Negative: this pressure difference is used to calculate the aero of the car, and a pressure difference can ruin this calculation, making the aero "tools" (i.e. air flow) ineffective, causing the loss of DF
Positive: if close enough, the two cars become one (ok, more like "less than two") aerodynamically, and have double the power of a single car (but the aero is worse), so the possible top speed of both cars increases
Hope that makes sense...
I'm expecting to see Ham-Vet-Ves-Ric finish here, unless someone does something stupid.
“Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!” Monty Python and the Holy Grail