Wow, very interesting.

 

Simple concept of wing vs defuser, the wing is trying to create downforce by re-directing air flow while the defuser is creating downforce by smoothing and directing the airflow. Or in a more hard dramatic way to put it, the wing is hammering the air out of the way and the defuser is guiding it out of the way.

 

I thought the defuser created downforce by making a vacuum. Also wouldn't it take a minum of 255lbs of energy somewhere to create 255lbs of downforce? Where does this come from if not from extra drag? I will be the first to admit that I don't understand Aerodynamics, so show me what I'm missing.

 

Very Interesting. Thats a nifty program you have there, I'd be experimenting with that for days if I had it, . Good work

And I think if Lexus made a new MR2 concept, that would be it.

 

While diverting air from one place to another obviously induces a force on the diverting object, the vast majority of the lift generated by a wing profile is due to differing levels of pressure on the upper and lower sides of the profile. The air travels significantly faster over the top of the wing, reducing the local pressure. Simple Bernoulli's.

A diffuser works very differently than a wing. High speed air traveling under the car can cause a LOT of drag when it exits. Check out the recirculation regions behind the CFD models. The diffuser allows the air to expand gradually and semi-controlled, dramatically reducing the drag on the rear end.

 

[QUOTE=__redruM,Oct 9 2006, 12:25 PM] I thought the defuser created downforce by making a vacuum.