From: parfrk@rs6418.ecs.rpi.edu (Karl Andrew Parfrey)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
Subject: Re: F1 Stuff
Date: 12 Nov 92 05:18:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: rpi.dpq1zzh
Reply-To: parfrk@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.

In article <1drvs7INN3po@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, cg894@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Brian Lee Wilson) writes:
|> 
|> I have read about some teams playing around with wings that
|> bent under certain loads.  For example, on a long straight, the
|> wing would bennd down slightly, thus reducing drag.  This may
|> or may not be in use, but I wouldn't doubt it for a second.
|> I don't guess there is a FISA-mandated wing structural rigidity
|> standard (wouldn't suprise me though).
|> 
|> -- 
|>       
|> Brian Wilson...                 Not from the Beach Boys!
|> 

It's possible to design a composite wing structure which exhibits 
"coupled" behavior: i.e. under a bending load the wing deflects in
a (conventional) bending manner _and_ an (unconventional) twisting
manner.  Thus, as the wing loaded up under downforce, it would droop
as an aluminum wing would, but also twist along its length as if 
a torque were applied to it.  The twisting would lessen the angle
of attack and thus lessen the downforce, reducing drag.

This effect is already used in helicopter blades to provide passive
control.  Axial-twist coupling in the rotor blades causes the 
centrifugal force to not only stretch the rotor blades along their
length but twist as well, reducing the angle of attack.  It has
been used to design self-regulating windmill turbines as well.

The coupling effect can be extended to thermal-twist coupling.  My 
officemate's PhD thesis involves the analysis of coupled helicopter 
blades which twist under heating.  Diverting engine exhaust through
the blades causes them to twist and thus affect aerodynamic control.

It is possible to include Nichrome heater element wire in the midst
of a coupled laminate.  Pass electricity through the wire and the 
laminate heats up, twisting the wing.

...all with "no moving parts"...

Things such as this are called "smart structures".

IMHO section ----------------------

Let F1 get out of hand.  The manufacturers want to play and they
will no matter what the rules.  Williams, McLaren, et all have budgets
that they're going to spend whatever way they can and if you 
ban technology they will find new things to buy.

If you want to de-tech the sport then revert to the old 1.5 liter
formula with lovely little Lotus 25-esque cars.  Ponder this:

small cars -> less surface area -> less advertising -> less $ -> less tech

... a roundabout way but I think just as effective and a lot easier
than banning the gimmick of the month.  With smaller cars you might
actually see someone pass at Monaco!  What a novelty!

IMHO #2 

Ressurect WSC and ban all microprocessors from the cars.  The manufacturers
will laugh at first and run to F1, until they start realizing the
costs involved and the fact that 90% of they buying public will be
just as impressed by WSC success as F1 success (perhaps more impressed;
the cars _seem_ more related to what they're actually buying).  The ranks
would easily fill with privateers and "second string" manufacturers such
as Toyota and Yamaha, etc.

IMHO #3

Re John Barnard / Harvey Postlethwaite politics at Ferrari:
it seems the esteemed Mr. Barnard is trying damn hard to bring
the designer's personal and professional conduct to the same 
shining level as that of the drivers.  Pity.

	-Kap
-- 
Kap Parfrey   (parfrk@rpi.edu)			The opinions expressed
Center for Composite Materials  		herein are not my own
 and Structures 				but rather those of my
Dept of Mechanical Engineering 			employer. I am merely a
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute		puppet of the regime.
Troy Ny USA 						- Pinochio	
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport