Active Side Skirts for Downforce and Ground Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of skirts on road-use passenger cars is made impossible by road surface imperfections, which can damage them, and their use is prohibited in some regions due to static ground clearance requirements, conflicting with the need for high vertical aerodynamic load (downforce) without increasing aerodynamic drag.
Innovation Solution
A road-use vehicle with side skirts that can vertically move their lower longitudinal edge, controlled by an electronic system to adjust ground distance based on vehicle parameters and road conditions, preventing airflow disturbance while avoiding damage from road imperfections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If rigid skirts are installed on the underbody to prevent airflow disturbance and increase downforce, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but the skirts are damaged by road surface imperfections and ground clearance requirements are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt is transformed from a rigid static structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The lower longitudinal edge of the skirt is made movable relative to the underbody through a actuation mechanism, allowing the skirt to adapt its position dynamically. This enables the skirt to maintain its aerodynamic function while avoiding contact with road surface imperfections by adjusting its vertical position as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical position of the skirt's lower longitudinal edge is changed as a variable parameter. Through the actuation mechanism, the skirt can adjust its ground distance, transforming it from a fixed geometric constraint to an adjustable parameter that can be optimized for different driving conditions, road surfaces, and aerodynamic requirements.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If skirts are lowered to prevent airflow disturbance, then aerodynamic downforce is increased, but ground clearance is reduced below regulatory minimums
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt position is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The lower longitudinal edge can be raised or lowered relative to the underbody through the actuation mechanism, allowing the system to adapt to different ground clearance requirements while maintaining optimal aerodynamic performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground distance of the skirt's lower longitudinal edge is changed from a fixed parameter to a variable parameter that can be adjusted. This allows the skirt to be positioned at different heights relative to the ground, enabling compliance with minimum ground clearance regulations while still achieving sufficient aerodynamic downforce when the skirt is lowered.
3Ease of manufacture
If the skirt's lower longitudinal edge is fixed, then manufacturing is simple, but the skirt cannot adapt to different road conditions and aerodynamic requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt is transformed from a static fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The lower longitudinal edge is made movable through an actuation mechanism that can be triggered by sensors detecting road surface conditions, vehicle speed, or aerodynamic requirements, enabling the skirt to adapt to various operating conditions while remaining relatively simple to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The skirt system incorporates sensors and control logic that enable it to automatically detect road conditions and adjust its position accordingly without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring its own operating environment and making appropriate adjustments to maintain optimal performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Maintains aerodynamic downforce while protecting the skirts from road damage, ensuring consistent performance and compliance with regulatory ground clearance.
Implementation Method 1
the flat shape of the underbody generates, beneath the passenger car, a depression (low-pressure air zone) which, in turn, generates a vertical force that tends to press the passenger car to the ground (downforce)
Data Source
AI summary
A road-use motor vehicle comprising a vehicle-body provided with a plurality of ground-resting wheels, a powertrain adapted to drive into rotation at least one of said ground-resting wheels, an underbody, which is arranged to cover, or is integrated into, the lower part of the vehicle-body so as to directly face the ground; at least one pair of side skirts that extend cantilevered from the underbody, on opposite sides of a vehicle vertical midplane, and are structured so as to vertically move their lower longitudinal edge, and an electronic control system, which is adapted to actuate said side skirts so as to vary the ground distance of said side skirts.