Composition and Design Considertions of Racing

Unlike the ordinary vehicles in the daily life in which engine accounts for a major function. Moreover, in the racing cars, chassis, suspension, tires and body structure also plays a significant role due to the special racing track and rules. The design requirements of racing are different according to different categories of racing. 

Taking Formula 1 Grand Prix (F1) as an example. In F1 racing field, speed is everything, the technicians in each motorcade never stopped improvements of racing car in pursuit of speed, every improvement would be a perfect progress. However, it is admitted that there is never a racing team with the exactly same design of racing cars in each race.

Originally, Grand Prix Formula One is defined that a vehicle which has at least four wheels which are not in a line, where at least two wheels for steering and at least two wheels for driving." More specific definition refers to the Formula One racing that the cylinder volume is 3.5 liters, power of engine is about 600 hp and a maximum speed is 315 km. Here the "formula" takes a certain format, it means to the strict rules of the car weight, length, width, distance and the size of tires. In all Formula racing, Formula One racing is the most senior level.

FIA (International Automobile Federation) requires the displacement of engine in racing car is 3L and 12 cylinders below, naturally aspirated engine without the supercharger. Chassis should be manufactured with carbon fiber for the manufacture due to lightweight and strong intensity. Furthermore, chassis is very low and only 50-70 mm minimum clearance from the ground. Compared with ordinary cars, F1 racing has many unique characteristics including thin and long body structure, low ride height, the large wheels very are conspicuous and completely exposed. 

Here introduced the composition of F1 racing and related design considerations.

Chassis: Chassis which locates under the vehicle is a major part of F1 racing, the main component is a single shell connecting with all other components. The chassis of F1 is made from carbon fiber composite material, and polyethylene.

Cylinder: cylinder is a part of the engine where combustion power is generated. The fuel gas mixture combust in the cylinder pushing piston reciprocating in the cylinder.

Diffuser: Diffuser is an air outlet at the bottom rear of the vehicle which plays an important role in F1 racing aerodynamics. Pressure is obtained by generating the low pressure area under the bottom of the body and it is the main source of racing raising top and bottom pressure in the high-speed corners.

ECU: Electronic Control abbreviation unit which is used to control and record all electronic F1 racing program, it is installed in the car's black box.

Engine: Engine, a 2.4 liter V8 engine is normally applied with F1 racing with the request of weigh must be more than 95 kg.

Front Wing: the front wing making under pressure for the front part of the body, therefore, it is an important component in F1 aerodynamics. In each race, the team of each motorcade will improve the front wing depending on the different requirements of under pressure for a particular track. In addition, the driver can also do the front wing adjustment in the course of the race, the main content of the adjustment is to change the angle of the wing attached.

Fuel: Fuel, super unleaded gasoline is used in F1 racing, in which the composition must meet the FIA rules and strict emissions standards of EU. In order to ensure the legitimacy of fuel in each team, FIA will conduct random checks at every races. Before the season, the manufacturer must provide a sample to the FIA in order to serve as a model for the record.

Gear box: gearbox transmits power with a certain speed or the gearbox reduction ratio, F1 prohibit the use of automatic continuous transmission, and must be forced to be equipped with a reverse gear. Currently, the number of gear for F1 is the seven-speed gearbox.

Head and Neck Support (HANS): head and neck protection system which is introduced since 2003 is used to give the driver's head and neck to provide additional protection. Following the head and neck protection system to prevent the driver's spine back strain, but also to prevent rejection before the riders head hit the steering wheel.

Tires: Tires used in F1 are currently provided by Bridgestone tires, in accordance with the technical rules, the width of the front tires is not more than 355 mm, rear tires are not more than 380 mm and the tire edge diameter is no greater than 330 mm. To improve the performance of the tires, the tire manufacturers provide specific recipes for almost every race tires, the hardness of tires is mainly determined by the track and racing characteristics.

Slicks: slicks are a kind of tire without tire tread grooves. FIA announced to abandon the use of slicks in 1997, but they are re-enabled in 2010. Due to the large slicks ground area, so the grip ability of slicks is very strong so that the car speed in the corners is very high.

Intermediate Tires: intermediate tires, located between the dry tires and rain tires, intermediate tires have more grooves than dry tires, rain tires have more than the ground area. It is used when the track is wet or drizzle.

Wet-Weather Tires: rain tires, rain tires are used in racing when it is raining with high drainage performance preventing the wheels and the ground to form a film of water to ensure that the tires stick to the ground.

Nose: the nose, known as the "nose." The first half of the F1 car, for safety requirements, it must meet the front and side crash tests. Nose cone also has the function of protecting single shell in the crash.

On-Board Camera: car camera locating on the car body is a mini TV camera, it can be installed on the car's gas tank, mirrors and front and rear wings in order to provide real-time dynamic screen when in practice, qualifying and the race.

Petrol: fuel, only the super unleaded gasoline can be used for F1, although it is largely the same with No. 98 unleaded petrol which can be get in an ordinary gas station, but the F1 fuel added additive to ensure the faster and better combustion. In addition, it is lighter than ordinary commercial gasoline. Each motorcade are allowed to choose fuel suppliers and must submit to the FIA fuel sample was used for testing before the start of the season.

Rear Light: taillights, it is used to reduce the risk of rear-end security device. When the racing use rain tires, taillights must continue to light up. Taillight is composed by 30 light-emitting diodes, the size is not smaller than 6x6 cm and is required to the installation of at least 35 cm away from the reference position of bottom part of the car.

Rear Wing: tail which is also called a swept-wing is mainly to create down-force for the rear axle, the design of rear wing must adapt to the track, and the steeper the flap, the greater down-force and also, the rear wing design and the surface angle can be further improved as a part of the design of a car.

Video: F1 2012-Awesome Race at Malysia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X9NEZ7plFQ

REFERENCE http://www.baike.com/wiki/F1