SiLo wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023, 13:04
Teams seem to be converging on really thick, rounded floor entrances. Is this a more efficient entrance? Does it help direct air where they want to go more?
If you look at the top surface of the leading edge of floor, as it curves downward going back along the car. Then if that was a very thin in depth it would provide lift from the underside, especially given it's angle of attack to the incoming air.
By making it thicker, much deeper in section, and giving something of a "belly" curve to it, then it should cancel that lift with the now opposed under surface. Should be relatively efficient too, as it moves the air from front leading edge more gently and without trying to break up laminar flow characteristics, leaving the airflow more efficiently attached to surface as it moves further back along the car.
Think more of a leading edge of an aircraft wing for appreciation of this detail.