New FIA Front Wing Load Test

[Crucial_Xtreme]

The new front wing test for the front wing in 2012 is for 100kg to be applied to one side/endplate. The wing cannot flex more than 10mm.

Looks like the flexing wings are gone!!

[Ganxxta]

And what are the specs for the Test in 2011 in relation?

[beelsebob]

And what are the specs for the Test in 2011 in relation?

100kg on both ends at the same time, with a max movement of 20mm.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

adding an extra 100kg is going to more or less eliminate the flexing wings of 2011.

[ecapox]

That's insane. That is equal to me standing on the end plate and not having it move more than 100mm. Holy rap that is strong.

[PlatinumZealot]

100mm? I wouldn't recommend your diet to anyone!

[Ganxxta]

It would be interesting to know how much load in kg is generated on the wing at 300km/h, I believe its way more than the 100kg.
I'm sure the teams can find a way to build a frontwing to flex lets say 5mm with 100kg load, 10mm with 150kg load and over 20mm beyond that point.

[raymondu999]

Hang on... so the test is a one-sided test (literally speaking)? They test the wing side by side?

[Ian P.]

I seem to recall that the front wing accounts for about 1/4th of the total downforce.
And total downforce is about double the weight of the car, then the front wing is contributing about 500 Lb or roughly 200 to 250 kg.
Before any of Newton's followers condem me to SI Hell, yes, I appreciate the mis-use of units.
Bottom line, the new wing tests will require single sided stiffness significantly greater that either previous test. Just about double.
It does NOT mean non-flexi wings. Just stiffer wings to the limits of the test load.
Probably no more Ferrari-Flutter unless they screw it up ....again.
Bet-ya we still see wings dragging on the track this year.

[Ganxxta]

... then the front wing is contributing about 500 Lb or roughly 200 to 250 kg.

Lets assume that this number is more or less correct, then 100kg(+-) per side is the actual force being applied to the wing anyway, if my thinking is correct that all of it is split up to left and right...

So I'm wondering how the teams could pass the test and still got those flexi wings or in Ferraris case extreme flexi wings?

[Lurk]

And total downforce is about double the weight of the car, then the front wing is contributing about 500 Lb or roughly 200 to 250 kg.

Maximum downforce is more likely the quad of the weight than the double.

2003 lola champcar generated 4376 lbs of DF at 180mph (1984kg at 290km/h, source: mulsanne's corner). Imagine what a modern f1 car can produce...

500 to 600kg on the front wing alone, FIA test is far from that.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

And total downforce is about double the weight of the car, then the front wing is contributing about 500 Lb or roughly 200 to 250 kg.

Maximum downforce is more likely the quad of the weight than the double.

2003 lola champcar generated 4376 lbs of DF at 180mph (1984kg at 290km/h, source: mulsanne's corner). Imagine what a modern f1 car can produce...

500 to 600kg on the front wing alone, FIA test is far from that.

Yes but all of the 500-600kg isn't pressing down on the endplates.

[Richied76]

I dont see how this will have much relevance this year if they havent got at least 90% of the DF loss from not having the EBD. I could see teams cutting away DF from the front wing to aero ballance the car. Take into consideration the lower nose hight andis plausable majority of the DF will be coming from the leading edge of the floor (being less "draggy" than the Front Wing per NM of downforce) and the rear wing. With all the sidepod cutting its likely the cars will be up on top speed this year but laptimes will be slower for loss of DF...but pirreli could throw in another varible with the tire's

[xpensive]

So the FIA still haven't got it, have they? They need to add the horizontal load from aerodynamic drag to get the true vertical deflection from an anisotropic structure as a modern carbonfibre front wing, this is the obvious "secret".

[myurr]

So the FIA still haven't got it, have they? They need to add the horizontal load from aerodynamic drag to get the true vertical deflection from an anisotropic structure as a modern carbonfibre front wing, this is the obvious "secret".

If they can't find any other way to properly enforce it then they should run every single cars front wing in a wind tunnel to generate proper load on it and measure it fully. If that means front wings are homologated then so be it.

They go through tests of similar scale elsewhere, such as the crash tests. Better a level playing field and properly enforced rules than some finding 'clever' ways to basically cheat.

And it is cheating, despite some members claiming otherwise. An athlete that finds a clever scientific way to beat drugs tests isn't a better athlete, they are a clever cheat. That some teams have found a way to beat the flexing wing tests, designed to keep the aero parts of the cars rigid but with practical tolerances as a perfectly rigid body isn't possible, is likewise cheating.

Perhaps each team should be required to provide an attachment that perfectly fits over the outer 20cm of the front wing and attaches firmly to it. A 250-300kg weight should then be applied to it along with a horizontal component to put the proper load on the front wing and correctly measure the deflection.