Page 1 of 1

Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:00 pm
by RaZias
The winner of 24h of Le Mans Race is a Audi R18 TDI and it has a big vertical fin...I don´t know the reason for it, maybe a large fin like that from the front to the end on a WR-dragster would give some results...

Re: Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:00 pm
by RaZias

Re: Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:24 am
by thampson
Hi RaZias,

Yes I did notice that when I was watching some of the 24hr last weekend. I think it comes from 2008's RedBull F1 car design where they used a similar design

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/u ... e_barc.jpg

I think its to assist in yaw stability, I did think of this at one stage with a paper design I did but thought the wing would be too heavy. Maybe when I get some more speed going we can see if it will assist.

Good pickup :)

-todd-

Re: Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:50 pm
by RaZias
Just a question, how much weights your car ?

Re: Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:47 pm
by thampson
The car we set the record with was about 2.8kg without the water.

-todd-

Re: Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:23 pm
by U.S. Water Rockets1
thampson wrote:Hi RaZias,

Yes I did notice that when I was watching some of the 24hr last weekend. I think it comes from 2008's RedBull F1 car design where they used a similar design

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/u ... e_barc.jpg

I think its to assist in yaw stability, I did think of this at one stage with a paper design I did but thought the wing would be too heavy. Maybe when I get some more speed going we can see if it will assist.

Good pickup :)

-todd-
Most likely the vertical stabilizer would help keep the car from oversteering in turns. There might not be much use for this type of fin on your dragster.

Re: Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:02 pm
by RaZias
U.S. Water Rockets1 wrote:
thampson wrote:Hi RaZias,

Yes I did notice that when I was watching some of the 24hr last weekend. I think it comes from 2008's RedBull F1 car design where they used a similar design

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/u ... e_barc.jpg

I think its to assist in yaw stability, I did think of this at one stage with a paper design I did but thought the wing would be too heavy. Maybe when I get some more speed going we can see if it will assist.

Good pickup :)

-todd-
Most likely the vertical stabilizer would help keep the car from oversteering in turns. There might not be much use for this type of fin on your dragster.
I dont remember the begining of the WR-dragster run but I think it oversteered with the "jet thrust kick", anyway the RC steering does a great job but if greater speeds are demanded there won´t be enough reaction time and you will need a fast milimetric control as the gyroscopes on RC 200mph cars.

Re: Audi R18 TDI - Big vertical fin

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:16 am
by thampson
Yes I think the gyroscope steering is the better solution. We have one here but I just dont have time to test it in action at the moment.

We hooked it up and just moved the car around its yaw axis and the gyroscope was moving the steering by itself to correct itself.

In the midst of buying and selling our house, so every waking hour apart from work is put to that task :(

-todd-