CFD testing Mini Z

[suprageex]

Hey,
Lately I started getting a Mini-Z F1 car ready for the Belgian Mini Z cup of 2009. It'll also have to work as a flagship for my R/C tuning company ΠAES (Pi Automotive Engineering Service). For the technical stuff, I got it covered; 3010 FETS, X-Speed motor, full alu/carbon chassis, 2.4Ghz board, etc...

But, the most important factor in F1 is ofcourse aerodynamics. Yes, aerodynamics work on a 1/28 scale racer (just look at the differences in lap times between a Mini Z with f.e. an Enzo body vs. a Mini Z with a Pan body (Schuppe). I downloaded Symlab, which is a CFD (Computational fluid
dynamics) -testing program. But I don't know how to get the full car, a 2005 McLaren MP4/20, on my screen, and how to add/change aero bits. If someone knows how to do it, or if someone would help me, it would be greatly appreciated (+ if you have a company with an online store, I could put your companys name as sponsor on the car).

As said, help would be very much appreciated!

[mrsmorf]

Hello,
maybe i can give you some information. Building up a CFD simulation for a whole car is very complex and diffecult. The free downloadable Symlab is just some kind of viewer. You have to buy the whole package for setting up a simulation.

The biggest problem is to get a CAD model of your car. You will not find any CAD Data of F1 cars and i'm sure McLaren will not give it to you. And also no normal PC is capable of doing a simulation like the F1 engineers do.

One possibility is to make a 3d scan of your mini racer and generate a CFD suitable model. But you need a CAD Tool like ProE, Catia or Solid Edge for this and for sure a 3d scanner.

I think the easiest way is just to model the front and rear wing of your mini racer. That means measuring it on your car and desinging it with a CAD tool. Then you can put it in a simulation und see how the wing affect the airflow and generated downforce.

hope i could help you a bit

cheers!