vorticism wrote: β01 Mar 2022, 21:12
Was puzzling over the t-tray design of this car and attempting to figure out why it is shaped the way it is.
1. The vertical slot. Perhaps 5-10 mm wide. Could be a small inlet duct for cooling components or driver, although I was thinking it may be a slot for optics for the ride height sensor to peer from. It would need to be mounted at an angle though. Second image below is the aperture requirements for a small ride height laser.
2. The overall form. It is rounded, bluff. Not shaped like a springboard nor 'tray.' My basic view is that this is simply a lower drag shape to drag through the air, as well as potentially being better in yaw, as opposed to a sharper nosed form.
3. The colors. The tan colored parts may be an anti-impact/abrasion resistant surface like you see in wheel wells. Yet it is partial. Why?
4. The inflexibility. There is no indication of movability, all the surfaces meet flush, and the surfaces look inflexible, as they are typically prescribed to be in the ruleset. I suppose it could still deflect slightly upward upon impact, with this fairing either breaking or flexing sufficiently, while the main shock absorber still performs its function.
https://i.imgur.com/1Ykjm8A.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/g4nAhdh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/csWeaM4.jpg
On point 1: this isn't the car comparison thread, but I have some points on the vertical slot. Mercedes and RB both have an opening with similar placement at the anterior face of the t-tray:
Secondly, Aston Martin have been seen to be placing a fan under the car that seems to be specifically made to be housed in this position based on its shape; if this duct is important enough for a specifically designed fan then perhaps it's significant. There was a post either here or Twitter with appropriate images of said fan and in position but all I can find at the moment is this photo where the fan is at the bottom of the photo. However, I haven't seen any clear photographic evidence of an opening similar to Merc/RB
What could this be ducting to? Merc, RB and AMR all already have a duct opening on the nose for driver cooling - is this a mystery or something obvious?
If it is a mystery, could there be some sort of heat exchanger placed in the t-tray that's advantageous weight distribution wise? I was under the impression they previously situated the fuel tank in the t-tray
Finally on point 2: I believe Kyle Engineers' video on the RB18 has some interesting thoughts about their design choices on this part of the car. It's also maybe possible there's something more radical planned which they didn't want to show? Seems unlikely though