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Front wing in ground effect (open-wheel)

How does an open-wheel front wing work close to the ground? · Standard part · basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio

Also called: front wing ground effect, F1 front wing, open wheel front wing, wing ride height, front wing height, wing in ground effect car, formula car front wing, rc formula front wing, front wing flap angle, ground effect wing downforce

Exact dimensions. True size, with no printing tolerance added.

sizes
5 in table

Notes

  • Running a wing close to the ground accelerates the flow under it, so downforce rises as ride height falls, until the flow separates and force drops sharply (Zhang & Zerihan).
  • Southampton's double-element wing reached CL 3.03 at h/c 0.079; below that, downforce fell sharply. A cited single-element study saw a force reduction of up to 25%.
  • UIUC front-wing tests found flap angle, flap planform and endplate size all moved CL markedly (Jasinski & Selig).
  • Used on: Formula One and Champ Car front wings (UIUC test geometries).
  • The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (Zhang & Zerihan test wing; mount at h = 0.079c (30 mm) for peak downforce.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.

Front wing in ground effect size chart

parametervalue or rangesource
Max CL (double element, high flap)3.028 at h/c 0.079Zhang & Zerihan
Max CL (double element, low flap)2.588 at h/c 0.066Zhang & Zerihan
Single-element force reductionup to 25%Zhang & Zerihan (cited study)
Model reference chord / span380 mm / 1100 mmZhang & Zerihan
UIUC semi-span model46.23 cm span, 33.02 cm reference chordJasinski & Selig (UIUC)

Where the files are

Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.

University of Southampton / AIAA JournalAerodynamics of a Double-Element Wing in Ground Effect (Zhang & Zerihan, AIAA J. 41(6), 2003)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
University of Illinois / SAEExperimental Study of Open-Wheel Race-Car Front Wings (Jasinski & Selig, SAE 1998)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts

Free files

★ Free files 1 parts. Xem Studio design: free to use, print and sell things from; not to be republished as files. Xem Studio Design License. index.json

front-wing-ground-effect-rear-wingdual element rear wing: span 1100 × chord 380 mm at 1°, endplates 200 mm, inverted NACA 4412 section (mounts from below)STEP · STL
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Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=front-wing-ground-effect

Front wing in ground effect (open-wheel), isometric render of a generated part
Render of front-wing-ground-effect-rear-wing from the free STEP; not to scale.

Fits with

Single-element rear wing (race car), isometric render of a generated part
Single-element rear wing (race car)7 sizes★ 1 file
Dual-element (two-element) rear wing, isometric render of a generated part
Dual-element (two-element) rear wing9 sizes★ 1 file
Swan-neck rear wing mount, isometric render of a generated part
Swan-neck rear wing mount5 sizes★ 1 file
Gurney flap / wickerbill, isometric render of a generated part
Gurney flap / wickerbill7 sizes★ 1 file
Wing endplates / side dams, isometric render of a generated part
Wing endplates / side dams6 sizes★ 1 file
Front splitter, isometric render of a generated part
Front splitter8 sizes★ 1 file

Questions

What ride height gives most downforce?

For the Southampton double-element wing, h/c 0.079 (about 30 mm on a 380 mm chord); below that downforce fell sharply.