Reason for hump on front splitters?

[balangproject]

I've noticed that many cars have a hump or opening in the middle of the splitter to allow air to channel in and always wondered why? Although most race cars have a flat splitter, could it be due to regulation of use of air further back?

[wesley123]

In LMP it is due to rules, regulating a 50mm rise in that area.

In other conditions it is to reduce sensitivity by underbody starvation, guiding more air under the floor, reducing the chance of stall of the floor.

[ESPImperium]

It reduces downforce in some cases, and thus creates a standard in that aera.

But it is to make sure that the floor dosnt bottom from air starvation and thus is a requirement for safety.

It was put to me once that is is LMPs and LMGTs form of the stepped floor for F1. Its a cost effective method that is easily policed and is now a industry standard in this form of motorsport.

[balangproject]

It reduces downforce in some cases, and thus creates a standard in that aera.

But it is to make sure that the floor dosnt bottom from air starvation and thus is a requirement for safety.

It was put to me once that is is LMPs and LMGTs form of the stepped floor for F1. Its a cost effective method that is easily policed and is now a industry standard in this form of motorsport.

I can see how it is used a regulation but the ASM Honda S2000 is not really restricted by any aerodynamic regulations, suggesting that it purely for performance.

[thisisatest]

it's also possible some of the cars have airflow (cooling) requirements under there. some cars get a lot of their radiator flow from under the bumper, especially when they have pointy noses and no grille.

edit*
then again, there are plenty of cars with straight splitters. looking at time attack cars, which have next-to-no regulations, nearly all of the splitters go straight across...

[bhall]

Though it's not quite the same, the concept can also be used to draw in more air for the diffuser, as in the case of the lovely Enzo Ferrari.

[marcush.]

the raised middle section on Lmp machinery was introduced to reduce fluctuations in underbody created downforce ...in extreme cases the cars were porpoising -eg -the car got into a resonance triggered by massive raise of downforce with reducing rideheights leading to a sudden stop of flow when the splitter touches the ground releasing all the energy stored in the springs raising the front to start a new cycle again .
So a raised middle section or in fact any bowed underfloor in ydirection should help avoiding this phenomenon .

[cheapracer]

then again, there are plenty of cars with straight splitters. looking at time attack cars, which have next-to-no regulations, nearly all of the splitters go straight across...

And, respectfully, they are amateurs without supercomputers and/or wind tunnels.