An accelerating inverted wing with ground effect
downforce measurement and reconstruction
Shanwei Zhou (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Edwin F.J. Overmars (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Jerry Westerweel (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
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Abstract
This paper presents an experiment designed to measure the downforce generated by an inverted wing under ground effect conditions, during both accelerating and steady motion. The flow around the wing is captured using high-speed planar particle image velocimetry, allowing for detailed observation of the flow field throughout the motion. A multi-body impulse-based method is employed to reconstruct the downforce from the measured flow field. To further explore how flow structures contribute to downforce generation, lift coefficient contours are analyzed. The results show that lower ground clearance produces greater downforce during acceleration, primarily due to the boundary layer on the suction side of the wing. Following acceleration, flow separation occurs, and the wake region begins to contribute significantly to downforce. Based on these findings, recommendations for future aerodynamic designs are proposed that may be relevant in Formula 1 racing.
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