05 2015 04 14 Road Vehicle Aerodynamics Chapter 3 Underbody Compr

ROAD VEHICLE AERODYNAMICS chapter 3 underbody
UNDER-BODY
Under body is usually full of mechanical components

(suspension arms, transmission shafts, exhausts systems,
catalytic converters, fuel tank, spare wheel compartment) that
are touched from stream that flows under the car. Those
interaction, underflow with these components, dissipate a lot of
Energy, because of increment of Cp. A consistent improvement
of Aerodynamic Efficiency can be reached designing in an
appropriate way the UNDERBODY, without any negative
impact on the style. For this region it is very intelligent to do on
in that way.
There are two main objectives:
 For all road cars: with an appropriate underbody it is

possible to reduce drastically the CD
 For the sportive cars: using on the Bernoulli’s Law and
Venturi effect, it is possible to create a lot of down forces
not only avoiding to destroy the style, but also to not
affect the DRAG
An example of a modern 4WD car, Mazda 6, front and rear

underbody, that explain the problems.
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VW POLO, SEGMENT B car: despite of the market positioning, this car has a very precious underbody totally covered, for reduction of DRAG
and noise due to the tires rolling and impacts with little stones
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VW POLO: in the front there is also a FRONT SPOILER, that further optimize CD bacause reduces impact of the air flow into mechanical
component
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This is an AIRDAM: differently than Front Spoiler, it is integrated with bumper and reduces at the limit the ground clearance, to generate
depression behind it, to produce front downforce
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VW POLO: flaps in front of tires and little diffuser for cool brake with air flow, could also create downforce
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VW POLO: The rear down bumper section is sealed with spare tires compartment, for a good improvement of the DRAG
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FORD FIESTA : generally, in the B segment, do not have any under cover, but only a spoiler for deviation of the airflow
7 paolo massai 2013
FORD FIESTA: spoiler added to the under of bumper

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FORD FIESTA
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FORD FIESTA: Often the bottom of the rear bumper is uncovered, and so will be invested by the air flow, opposing a high DRAG due to
the spoon effect
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TOYOTA YARIS: this is an intelligent solution for avoiding the spoon effect from the bumper, sealing the spare wheel
compartment with the rear crossmember
TOYOTA YARIS: The front spoiler it is at only 100 mm from the road surface, instead of 120mm standar for Europe (140 for Brasil, China, India,
180 for SUV, until 260 for off road) but is made by rubber to avoid cracks.

BMW SERIE 3 Touring 330XD: the underbody is totally covered for reducing DRAG
BMW SERIE 3 Touring 330XD integrated with bumper the FRONT SPOILER, with added flaps in front of tires
The substantial underbody

configuration with ROUGH
FLOOR, compared with
SMOOTH
From Cp coefficient analyzing, it

easy understand where the
velocity is stopped (Cp = 1 (red)) and
where are the components who
could create surface friction

Another CFD simulation to understand where are the

PRESSURE/DEPRESSURE zone and so verify the
harmful losses of kinetic energy, with and without fairing of
the rear spare tire cover and of the inferior bent of the rear
bumper.
This fairing of the lower lip of the rear bumper prevents it

behaving like a spoon against the air flow under the car. In
this way, (see the color of without fairing, almost yellow, and
with fairing, completely green with a little blue) it is possible to
eliminate the strong air brake over the bumper and some
possibility to generate noise, due to the vibration of the
bumper lip. Creating deformation also, up to have possible
failure of the bumper itself

LEXUS IS: spoiler in the front, under the bumper and flaps in front of tires; many vertical little fences to favorite air flow and
rear boat-tailing, even with vertical fences. They also protect all mechanics with a plastic part fairing, as much as smooth
and flat as possible. It is also important to avoid an un-balanced downforce between front and rear

AUDI RS4 2012: front spoiler and little splitter, realized in the bumper
AUDI RS4: engine underbody completely covered, with tires flap

AUDI RS4: the under bumper’s lip is bent like boat-tailing way, helped by mufflers and tire spare cover, to avoid spoon
effect. The vertical fences realize an more robust design to prevent bumper vibration and consequent noise

BMW M3 V8: The substrate front fairing, with the exit cooling air from the radiator advanced, in order to reduce its loss
of kinetic energy when crossing the engine, in the powertrain compartment
BMW M3 V8: The side view is good for understanding how it is positioned the flow exit of the cooling radiator
BMW M3 V8: under engine the cover, aluminum made, to withstand any abrasion. Before tires, the flaps
BMW M3 V8: the central fairing, made of material muffling for the noise level, with the spaces for cooling systems, exhaust,
catalyst and drive shaft

BMW M3 V8: the front air spoiler with tires flap incorporated. Any mechanical suspension components are downwind

BMW M3 V8: The rear bumper: its lower curvature is sealed laterally to the fenders, to reattach the flow coming out from
wheel compartment. In the middle, it is downwind after the central exhaust muffler
BMW M3 V8: the lateral view of the rear underbody, to understand the relative position of bumper, fenders and muffler.
None real extractor was made, but only a device to reduce DRAG, using the outer housing of the muffler
AUDI A1 2.0 T Quattro: the same concept about bumper and muffler, with some vertical streaks, but only for esthetic effect
and a certain hardening of the lip
BMW X6 CROSSOVER: the underbody it is enough covered. In the front, to guarantee the requirements of CROSSOVER
way of driving, the front spoiler has been completely reduced to maintain a sufficient ground clearance. But front tires flaps
are maintained
BMW X6 : the front tires flaps. With this device, the pressure regime in the wheel compartment it will be optimized
BMW X6: adjacent to tire flap, a little DIFFUSER DUCT to cooling brake system
BMW X6. The mutual positions of the tire flap and brake cooling system, with a diffuser Duct + Ram Air Duct
BMW X6: the underbody covered and the typical BMW concept about kinetic energy maintaining, to reach a sufficient DRAG
reduction
BMW X6: how to use the external muffler housing to avoid bumper spoon effect, so to reduce DRAG
F 355 del 1994: è la prima vettura Ferrari/Pininfarina con

sottoscocca in depressione, ufficialmente dichiarato. Sul
frontale si vede la presa aria per incanalare il flusso
sottoscocca

360 Modena del 1999: decisa presa aria frontale per alimentare il flusso sottoscocca; il fondoscocca è tutto carenato,
aerodinamico integrale; l’estrattore posteriore si è allargato grazie alla disposizione longitudinale del cambio

ENZO del 2002: la presa aria frontale è molto evidente: al di sotto del muso alto scorre un canale di aria che va ad alimentare i diffusori
posteriori. Qui addirittura un flap mobile anteriore riduce, in posizione estratta, la deportanza al di sopra dei 300 km/h, per permettere il
raggiungimento dei 350 km/h e non modificare l’assetto
ENZO: lo scivolo posteriore si è allungato e allargato, ed è corredato di pinne. Il fondo posteriore è formato da due grandi diffusori ottimizzati nel
profilo longitudinale per fornire elevati carichi ad altezze elevate da terra, ma non cambiare comportamento al variare dell’assetto. Sono
ottimizzati in senso trasversale per mezzo delle grandi pinne centrali che consentono
di separare il flusso centrale da quello proveniente dalle zone laterali. Anche qui un alettone mobile si ritrae a filo carrozzeria per diminuire la
Deportanza al di sopra dei 300 km/h. In totale la deportanza vale 344 kg a 200 km/h, sale fino a 775 kg a 300 km/h per poi scendere a 585 kg a
350 km/h

430 Scuderia F1 del 2007: la bocca di alimentazione del flusso sottoscocca

430 Scuderia: l’estrattore posteriore, corredato di pinne. Le uscite dello scarico sono in alto, per non disturbare il flusso dell’aria sottoscocca in
uscita dal divergente
430 scuderia: l’inclinazione dell’estrattore posteriore. Le numerose pinne riescono ad incrementare la capacità di mantenere il flusso attaccato, e
quindi di far “funzionare “ tutta la lunghezza del divergente

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO: the underbody completely covered in the front and in the middle of the car. The NACA duct
that is visible in the middle front, is for cooling the differential of the front axle, and the main shaft from the powertrain,
central located
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO: no one front air intake to supply the flat bottom and then the rear diffuser. In front, very little
Airdam and large Splitter
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO: The typical front suspension design, not just “compact”, entails reducing the front covering flat
bottom
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO: very poor rear diffuser, from angle and length point of view
LAMBORGHINI Superleggera: also in the last edition, the rear flat bottom is quite the same, with 3 large NACA duct cooling
gearbox and engine compartment, 2 diffuser duct for brake and the absence of right inclination & length to reach the Venturi
effect
LAMBORGHINI Superleggera: also in the last version of this Supercar, the rear diffuser remains extremely short and
angulated
LAMBORGHINI Superleggera: due to the not enough efficient rear diffuser, for to reach the DOWNFORCE needed, they
had to add a rear wing
MERCEDES SLS 6.3: no rear diffuser, no rear wing, only a spoiler on the upper end of the rear bonnet
SLS 6.3: no rear diffuser, only a continuous cover from the bottom of the bumper to chassis. No cover on the chassis, and
no even on gearbox
SLS 6.3: cover only radiators compartment and not of the engine. No airdam, no splitter, only flaps in front of tires
SLS 6.3: only partial cover of the underbody

This is the under tray of the latest Porsche 911 Turbo, with center floor Naca inlet for radiators and gearbox cooling, Dam
and front diffuser to create depression, flaps on tires, front brake air inlet at the end of front diffuser
For the Porsche 911 is really hard to realize a rear diffuser due to the architectural choice of rear engine, boxer and
turbocharged, completely overhang positioned with a heavy heat source: turbo and catalyst run at 1.000°C at WOT
PORSCHE GT3 – 2013 first rear diffuser on 911, for this NA Boxer
The underbody of F 430 “sealed”. In front, under the spoiler & splitter, the air intake within the bottom plate, to supply
sufficient flow for rear extractor: the total air mass will give from the final Venturi section
The completely sealed flat bottom under front axle, also thanks to the front suspension, purpose designed
The rear extractor, very efficient, with multiple strakes to avoid a cross flow of the air due to the favorable pressure gradient,
between side panel and the under floor, that would spoil the depression effect
FERRARI 458 ITALIA: fantastic flat bottom all completely sealed, the maximum possible. Very efficient rear diffuser and
front air intake: 325kg at 300km/h, CL front 0,147 CL rear 0,213 CLtotal 0,36 CD 0,33 E=1,09
F 458: the large area in which depressure will create downforce

F 458. The vertical streaks on rear diffuser

F 458: the strong rear diffuser, with multiple streaks. Note the width of flat bottom, almost in contact with the tires
458: note the particular Profile Extractor: adjacent to the tire, there is much swirl, so having a steeply sloping profile in that
area is not needed. Better reduce the inclination in favor of a more radiused trend
F 458: in the front splitter and intake air to energize the flat bottom
458: The central air inlet formed in the front splitter, powering rear diffuser

F 458. The front air intake for rear diffuser, in the middle of the bumper. In the front of tires, the diffuser with vertical streaks,
to increase front downforce. The flat bottom extends at the tires limits when steering
NISSAN GT-R. front airDAM and Splitter, both very quiet

NISSAN GT-R: very well done front flat bottom, with, SPLITTER and DIFFUSER in front of tires

NISSAN GT-R: very simple rear diffuser, with an angle contained and none vertical plate: it is a mere taper, like boat-tailing

NISSAN GT-R. the rear wing, to reach enough downforce. But spending Drag
AUDI R8 V10: the quite efficient rear diffuser. The flat bottom is totally well done, completely covering


AUDI R8 V10: added spoiler and mini-splitter integrated with bumper. Note the diffuser on both sides
LOTUS EVORA: in the front splitter, with also efficient bonnet inclination to create downforce due to the air deviation

LOTUS EVORA: the flat bottom on the front, without any diffuser
EVORA: the central flat bottom, with some NACA duct to cool engine and exhaust; differently to its competitor, it is
aluminum made
LOTUS EVORA: The simple rear diffuser. With this technology, aluminum plates only bent and welded without any molds, it
is difficult to realize an efficient three dimensional flat


LOTUS EVORA: the rear wing, necessary to create sufficient Downforces, it is good also for the wake
LOTUS EVORA: flat bottom completely covered, but the rear has not enough inclination and longitudinal vanes. Again is a
boat-tailed rear
MC LAREN MP4-12C: The rear diffuser is much narrower, its effective width is reduced by the bulky side frame
MP4-12C: interesting the vertical fin to prevent whirling created by the wheel that disturbs the action of venturi

MP4 12C: very natural to the front air inlet for the feeding of the bottom
MP4-12C: splitter quite pronounced and a slope that runs from the air intake
LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR: again a diffuser not sufficient angled and too much extended, also behind tires
AVENTADOR: here you can evaluate exactly the slant of rear diffuser, too poor
AVENTADOR: very simple air intake for the flat underbody

NEW LAMBORGHINI ROADSTER: it was added a wing in the rear diffuser, also with lateral bulkhead
ROADSTER: very high increased splitter, with a consistent air intake for the under body
INFINITI EMERGE-E: simple splitter and none air intake in the front
EMERGE-E: on the rear a normal boat-tailing

EMERGE-E: the central duct it is only to cool the electric component

LEXUS LF-LC: instead of style very sport, the under body is a quite boat-tailing
LEXUS LF-LC: in the front a very large splitter


MASERATI GT: on the front lower bulkhead, the opening with vertical vane, creating depression downstream, it is
specialized to increment the flow crossing through the radiator; on the sides flaps and diffusers

MASERATI GT: no one particular attention to fairing the underbody

MASERATI GT: on the rear, only a device to reduce Drag in the impact with lower elements of the bumper
FORD GT 40 rear very poor diffuser, because it was only attached to a “remake” car
FORD GT 40 under tray with limited rear Venturi

FORD GT 40 the very poor rear diffuser

FORD GT 40 the originally shape of this remake, was not aerodynamically correct. So it has been added a spoiler and
splitter to avoid the Lift due to the frontal shape, with air deviation downward
FORD GT 40 front spoiler and splitter to avoid the Lift

FORD GT 40 engine hot air outlet upward: it is aerodynamically correct, because with this air deflection, it is creating
downforce
DODGE VIPER the more "incomprehensible” rear diffuser and semi-closed under tray
DODGE VIPER semi-closed under tray realized with “boxes squared” technology
DODGE VIPER air inlet for the differential (picture from the front) that does not look like any standard duct, but only built
with…sense
DODGE VIPER: only a very fashionable shape, but without any technological best practice

CORVETTE Z6 front spoiler to reduce air lower flow and without danger of hitting the step of the pavement in parking
condition
CORVETTE Z6 engine air inlet in a under-pressure zone!

Z6: no possibility to realize a rear diffuser; the underbody, thanks to body built with honeycomb solution, it is quite flat
bottom
PAGANI ZONDA rear diffuser, rear wing

PAGANI ZONDA rear chassis construction with a good evidence of rear diffuser

PAGANI ZONDA: splitter in the front and Borda’s lip on the sill and flat under tray
PAGANI ZONDA front down force bonnet and front splitter that separates the stream. Nice positioning of rear view mirrors.

PAGANI ZONDA front splitter chassis integrated; interesting the radiator position and exit ducts, with deviation of outgoing
flow upward
PAGANI ZONDA rear diffuser and rear wing: -330 Kg at 300 Km/h on back axle
PAGANI ZONDA front down-force bonnet dam plus splitter: -270 Kg at 300 Km/h on the front axle
PAGANI ZONDA top view, the stream movement: cockpit is similar to J shape, with fine swaging at the exit for rear wing
and efficient canalization to give to it some clean air. The inspiration it was the Sauber Mercedes C9

ZONDA R, a car only for track driving: the incredible superefficient front airdam and splitter
ZONDA R: the car is a research car, only for track driving out of any regulation. This the overhang of frontal splitter

ZONDA R: the view of the internal flow, to brake cooling, to the radiators with upward deflection



ZONDA R: The rear diffuser, so large, was designed to maximize the downforce effect, without any rule limitation

ZONDA R: the incredible downforce from rear diffuser and rear double wing: 1000 kg at 300 km/h

05 2015 04 14 Road Vehicle Aerodynamics Chapter 3 Underbody Compr

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ROAD VEHICLE AERODYNAMICS chapter 3 underbody

Under body is usually full of mechanical components

There are two main objectives:

 For all road cars: with an appropriate underbody it is

An example of a modern 4WD car, Mazda 6, front and rear

1 paolo massai 2013

3 paolo massai 2013

FORD FIESTA: spoiler added to the under of bumper

9 paolo massai 2013

12 paolo massai 2013

The substantial underbody

From Cp coefficient analyzing, it

15 paolo massai 2013

Another CFD simulation to understand where are the

This fairing of the lower lip of the rear bumper prevents it

16 paolo massai 2013

17 paolo massai 2013

AUDI RS4: engine underbody completely covered, with tires flap

20 paolo massai 2013

25 paolo massai 2013

26 paolo massai 2013

F 355 del 1994: è la prima vettura Ferrari/Pininfarina con

36 paolo massai 2013

37 paolo massai 2013

38 paolo massai 2013

430 Scuderia F1 del 2007: la bocca di alimentazione del flusso sottoscocca

39 paolo massai 2013

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SLS 6.3: only partial cover of the underbody

F 458: the large area in which depressure will create downforce

F 458. The vertical streaks on rear diffuser

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NISSAN GT-R. front airDAM and Splitter, both very quiet

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AVENTADOR: very simple air intake for the flat underbody

EMERGE-E: on the rear a normal boat-tailing

EMERGE-E: the central duct it is only to cool the electric component

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LEXUS LF-LC: in the front a very large splitter

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MASERATI GT: no one particular attention to fairing the underbody

FORD GT 40 under tray with limited rear Venturi

FORD GT 40 the very poor rear diffuser

FORD GT 40 front spoiler and splitter to avoid the Lift

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CORVETTE Z6 engine air inlet in a under-pressure zone!

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PAGANI ZONDA rear diffuser, rear wing

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