What Speed Does Downforce Start Working?

Today we look at what speed downforce starts working on cars, and what sort of difference it actually makes to lap times and cornering speeds. While aerodynamic devices technically produce downforce at any speed, the effects at low speed are pretty minimal. Also, on heavier cars these effects are further lessened.

[keyboarddancers]

Anyone else flipping between here and Engineering Explained?

[jaashiik]

you are an inspiration to me man. Currently studying Aerospace engineering B.S. at the University of Washington with a specific interest in applied aerodynamics and you have some brilliant explanations for a lot of crucial topics! Cheers

[ralphwarom]

Honestly I just want to know at what speed a spoiler starts working. XD

[Daveinet]

The Ti22 was one of the very early cars with serious down force. So much so, at 100 mph, it could have driven upside down on the race track. Its first race, it lapped the complete field within the first 5 laps of the race. Unfortunately, the loss of down force due to traffic, resulted in loss of control and a serious crash. Being they crashed, they did not get the sponsorship they needed to continue racing, and struggled heavily to stay in business. That is why you don't hear much about them in the history of Can-Am.

[michielvanstaden]

I'm currently 2nd year Mechanical Engineering and I LOVE your videos!

Man, you answer a lot of the questions I've had about aerodynamics, etc.
Thank you. Please keep it up!

[nielsasdf]

Now I'd like to know the effect of weight reduction on a car with similar aero.

[goldblade]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd venture to guess your audience has a rather large % of nerdy car enthusiasts that are also non racers.

I appreciate you and several other YouTubers explaining in detail the parts, functions, and physics of aerodynamics, mechanics etc. as related to automobiles. However, as good as it is to dream about driving an F1 vehicle and obsessing about different aero features etc. I'd really love to see more information that is more applicable to real world applications and common modifications / mistakes.

For example a common mod is coilovers / lowering springs, and while there are commonly explanations about why lowering a car is better for performance, I've not heard much about what happens if you lower either the front or rear too much in relationship to each other (both from an Aero, weight transfer, brake bias, etc. perspective).

I'd very much love to see more science applied to road cars. While your formulas go deep into cornering speed with the aid of down force, I'd very much like to see some info about aerodynamics and stability in a road car.

[fletchergp]

Awesome information. Was trying to find the answer to that one for ages

[aflo]

That is the most beautiful excel spreadsheet ive ever seen.

[Грандбісер-СупермаркетРукоділл]

Very useful video for understanding downforce.

[Kumoiwa]

Damn, Ryan Gosling explaining aerodynamics! Youtube surprises me every day!

[Adaw]

From my understanding aerodynamic forces acting on any form of wing are usually considered more of a pull than a push as it's the lack of air underneath that sucks "pulls" it down opposed to the denser air above "pushing it down" a bit pedantic but had to get it off my chest, please correct me if you think I'm wrong and why.

[PhantomMark]

This is excellent, and it confirms everything I have seen on telemetry from race cars (FIA GT)

[kingturk]

Ppl be trippin bcos i put my bonnet scoops on left to right right to left.
Only bcos i want the air to travek over motor and take heat out with it aswell as make downforce i own a suv 2013 trax chevrolet which is prone for heat in engine.it has a flush front and its not really made for 140 km/h standards.
So i checked my temp i have dropped it from 105c temp to almost 90c by doing this.yes it looks awkward at fist sight.but i got my achievment done.im also gwtting downforce on front tyres.as the car use to feel really light as i hit, 140km/h speed bands.
Thanks to this guy.he made me think of the best output i could of done with bonnet scoops.i was aiming more for outcome then what it looked like.
Less turbulans under bonnet and more out going heat flow

[trapjaw]

What i don’t understand is why in automotive aerodynamics you calculate ClA with the frontal area and not the top area as you would do with plane wings. I imagine you can get this coefficients from simulations in which you can choose what area you want to relate to, but still it sounds strange

[MacDaddyFresh]

Really great video! Enjoyed it very much.

[landdevil]

Is lift considered in your calculation? I think most steet cars would normally generate lift as they go faster. So compared to lift, some little downforce should add significant cornering force.

[LukeGargan]

I don't know if this is a stupid question or not but is a car more aerodynamic in higher altitude then lower altitude because of having less air to cut through?

[GCCRacing]

Excellent Presentations. Keep up the good work. I WOULD though love to see some explanation of the working of the kind of front splitter mounted vortex generators that have sprung up all over the place in prototype racing. Because to me they seem to generate a vortex spinning in the wrong direction. ...??

[krisnestorurian]

I have not seen any your videos of canards yet. Also I've seen small projections near the side mirrors of a Toyota Vios and most Lexus sedans. Does this explain the buffering low rumble when you open the rear windows? Thank you for your very informative lectures.