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It’s not often that a motorsport student would have the opportunity to work on a piece of Formula 1 history, but that’s exactly what’s happening at the National Centre for Motorsport Engineering at the University of Bolton.
Students at NCME have the rare opportunity of working directly on a Formula 1 car, taking the theory of the classroom onto the reality of the race track.
What does it take to make a 1980s Formula 1 car ready to race again in 2020? Engineering students at the University of Bolton’s National Centre of Motorsport Engineering (NCME) have been finding out, as they prepared the historic 1981 Ensign N180B Formula 1 car for the track again – driven by three-time grand prix winner, Johnny Herbert.
F1 ground effects & aerodynamics
The Fast Track to Formula One project, in conjunction with the University of Bolton, is the most exciting project of its type with NCME students working on an actual Formula One car that has been raced for real around the world.
The project is the first of its kind and supports the call from motor racing star Lewis Hamilton for more diversity in this elite sport, to open up opportunities and inspire a new generation of engineering minds in students from all backgrounds.
As part of the project, the students installed a powerful Cosworth DFV V8 racing engine into a 1980’s original ground effect concept racing car, following which they digitally scanned the car to create a virtual aero image of the aerodynamic surfaces in order to make CFD comparisons with 2022 ground effect F1 racing designs.
The project technical partners, Faro Engineering and Evolution Measurements provide the students with digital scanning equipment and aero pressure sensors to create the computational fluid design (CFD) model more commonly referred to as a virtual wind tunnel.
As part of the project, the students installed a powerful Cosworth DFV V8 racing engine into a 1980’s original ground effect concept racing car, following which they digitally scanned the car to create a virtual aero image of the aerodynamic surfaces in order to make CFD comparisons with 2022 ground effect F1 racing designs.
The project technical partners, Faro Engineering and Evolution Measurements provide the students with digital scanning equipment and aero pressure sensors to create the computational fluid design (CFD) model more commonly referred to as a virtual wind tunnel.
The students will correlate the CFD analysis against track data, enabling them to optimise the aerodynamic performance of the car.
CFD is a valuable capability in aerodynamic design, and for a Formula 1 racing car it is critical for accurately simulating wind tunnel tests, track conditions and aerodynamic behaviour. Highly specialised mathematical CFD modelling algorithms can quickly and accurately simulate the flow of air over and around a car, making it possible to virtually get inside and all around a vehicle to see how it performs.
The students will correlate the CFD analysis against track data, enabling them to optimise the aerodynamic performance of the car.
CFD is a valuable capability in aerodynamic design, and for a Formula 1 racing car it is critical for accurately simulating wind tunnel tests, track conditions and aerodynamic behaviour. Highly specialised mathematical CFD modelling algorithms can quickly and accurately simulate the flow of air over and around a car, making it possible to virtually get inside and all around a vehicle to see how it performs.
“There are so many youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds who don’t have the money to take part in what is a massively expensive sport who are missing out on motor racing and Formula One, Bob Fernley said.”
“We want to help change that because both Jonathan [Kendrick, ROKiT co-founder] and I understand what it means to start with nothing in life, which is why we are acting as Fast Track to Formula One benefactors to try to bring on new, young talent that otherwise would never have the opportunity to surface.”
” With Lewis Hamilton calling for greater diversity in Formula One, it confirmed our understanding that only a small percentage of Motorsport Engineering students are from an ethnic minority background. “
Kendrick added: “I’m delighted to be backing Fast Track to Formula One with Bob because British engineering is renowned the world over and we want to encourage more young people – particularly those from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds – to aim for the sky in motor sports.
University of Bolton students enjoyed the experience of a lifetime at the Anglesey race circuit as they tested the classic Ensign Formula One car driven by Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert.
Half of the car was covered in a grid of 250 pressure sensors and it was enabled to log the data, so the pressure differences on the upper and underfloor body surfaces could be monitored and recorded. On the second day, the pressure pads were removed, enabling performance runs with chassis set-up changes to evaluate the car’s performance to optimise its lap time on the racetrack.
Sources: University of Bolton, Hartree centre, RaceTechMag, The Race, Rokit
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