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Swan-neck rear wing mount

Why do race cars hang the rear wing from swan-neck mounts? · Standard part · basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio

Also called: swan neck wing, swan neck mount, top mount wing, top mounted rear wing, swan neck vs bottom mount, wing uprights, hanging wing mounts, reverse swan neck, swan neck spoiler, UCW swan neck

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

sizes
5 in table

Notes

  • A swan-neck mount holds the wing from its top (pressure) surface, leaving the underside clean. The underside of a car wing is the suction side that makes most of the downforce, and bottom mounts disturb that flow and cause early separation (HPA).
  • In a 2009 LMP CFD study the same wing went from 1019 lb downforce on conventional mounts to 1299 lb on swan necks at similar drag, because the mount-induced separation disappeared (Mulsanne's Corner).
  • HPA says conventional mounts are justified only by structural limits, rules or looks.
  • Used on: Audi R15, Acura ARX-02a.
  • The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (2009 LMP wing box (Mulsanne's Corner); mount geometry illustrative.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.

Swan-neck rear wing mount size chart

parametervalue or rangesource
Conventional mount, bespoke 2009 wing1019 lb downforce, 214 lb dragMulsanne's Corner
Swan neck, same AoA1299 lb downforce, 186 lb dragMulsanne's Corner
Swan neck, flap +8 deg1413 lb downforce, drag within 4% of 2008 carMulsanne's Corner
Reverse swan neck (over trailing edge)1288 lb downforce, 186 lb dragMulsanne's Corner
Downforce recovered by swan neck~280 lb at the same settingsMulsanne's Corner

Where the files are

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

Mulsanne's CornerThe Rise of the Swan Neck (2009 LMP rear wing CFD study)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
High Performance AcademyAerodynamic performance devices for club level cars: rear wing theorywebPublisher'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

swan-neck-wing-mount-rear-wingswan neck rear wing: span 1600 × chord 250 mm at 6°, endplates 300 mm, inverted NACA 4412 section (mounts from above)STEP · STL
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Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=swan-neck-wing-mount

Swan-neck rear wing mount, isometric render of a generated part
Render of swan-neck-wing-mount-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
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
Splitter tunnels (front diffuser), isometric render of a generated part
Splitter tunnels (front diffuser)5 sizes★ 1 file

Questions

Is a swan neck stronger?

Not inherently; HPA notes conventional mounts are chosen for structural strength or rules, while swan necks are chosen for aerodynamics.