Dumb Q. What is the metal cattle grid attached to F1 cars?

[Troubleatmill]

See it in many pics just behind the front wheels. The photos never have an explanation ( on the sites I visit )

Is it the FIA checking stuff?
The teams?
Both?

Aliens?


Thank you in advance for some wisdom.
T

[Order66]

You mean the Aero Rakes as in this article?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112669

There to measure airflow

[Troubleatmill]

No.
It is like a big metal cattle grid in the front of the car behind the front wheels that runs the width of the car.

Edited by Troubleatmill on Tuesday 28th February 22:26

[Spawn]

Aero rakes :s

[Order66]

Troubleatmill said:

No.
It is like a big metal cattle grid in the front of the car behind the front wheels that runs the width of the car.

Edited by Troubleatmill on Tuesday 28th February 22:26

Perhaps you never see it described because you don't scroll down to the section mentioned. Definitely Aero Rakes.

[Troubleatmill]

Order66 said:

Perhaps you never see it described because you don't scroll down to the section mentioned. Definitely Aero Rakes.

Yup.. Didn't scroll down.

Thank you all. :}

[Vocal Minority]

The sensors need to be that big because they want to measure the airflow over that whole area.

Seriously....the answer came in the first reply

[Troubleatmill]

Vocal Minority said:

The sensors need to be that big because they want to measure the airflow over that whole area.

Seriously....the answer came in the first reply

Accepted.. Didn't understand you had to scroll down


Pax

[Vocal Minority]

Apologies

Also guilty of same in this case!

Pax

[Europa1]

My question with these is what happens to them in a crash? Presumably they are mounted so as to break off/deform very easily?

[PhillipM]

The trick is not to crash.

They usually only hook over the chassis and have a couple of bolts and some tape to hold them there.

[Order66]

Europa1 said:

My question with these is what happens to them in a crash? Presumably they are mounted so as to break off/deform very easily?

This is testing - you're allowed to have non-crash tested/approved stuff attached.

[playalistic]

It's actually the doozers. Someone must have left the car in fraggle rock.

[Otispunkmeyer]

How do they actually do it? individual small pressure sensors on a grid? grid of pitot tubes with sensors inboard? Must be very useful for validating the CFD work.

[Vaud]

Order66 said:

Europa1 said:

My question with these is what happens to them in a crash? Presumably they are mounted so as to break off/deform very easily?

This is testing - you're allowed to have non-crash tested/approved stuff attached.

Correct - the cars don't have to be race-legal.