Great idea...I'll slowly refine this beast.

 

how about the stock spoiler?

 

Is the "ride height" to scale on that model?

Could you try lowering it 1-2 inches front and back?

Also, you could try the top up with the spoiler.

 

This is what I am running over the weekend. It is slowly but surely becoming more S2000 like...

I cut the roof away a bit, added holes in front, flaps in front of the wheels. reshaped the front a bit.

I am meshing the bejesus out of this one too. It will probably take all weekend to run. Should turn out nicely...

 

I have access to a full, legal version of CFX here at work (and Ansys Workbench, and ProE Wildfire). I can help out with complex simulations since I have a fairly decent machine to run these sims on. Let me know if you need any help or even if you would like some different modelling done. Depending on how busy I am, I might be able to help.

EDIT: Sorry - I read page 3 before page 1. I'm sure your software can do anything CFX can. I might be able to help with an accurate model, though. Even adding "real" wheels would be pretty significant to the model, I would imagine.

 

just wanted to throw in another "thanks" from yet another person who's helped this thread to achieve the low, low reply:read ratio of 6%

I really appreciate the effort that's going into this, it's fascinating stuff. Keep up the good work!

 

CFX is one of our competitors. Although we don't view them as one much anymore.

I am using UG NX3 for the modeling and the two CAD packages are really incompatible. If you want to do some modeling, please, feel free. You can even send the models to me as I have Pro/E as well.

The latest pic there has the car's ground clearance at 5 inches. I realized that was a bit high and I just lowered it to 3.5. The wheels are now further up in the wells which looks pretty sweet. I can't wait to see how this one turns out.

 

now I see why those Amuse, TOP SECRET, J's Racing etc... carbon wings are so tall. It puts them in clean air that isn't disturbed by the car.

Just goes to show that those decklid level spoilers don't have much air going over them, according to this simulation anyways.

 

If you stick a wing out in clean air, you simplify your design problem. If you put it in the flow that is already disturbed by the body, you have to do a lot more work in order to make sure the interactions are positive rather than negative. But it can be done.

 

They still have an effect. It's just lessened with the top down. The higher the wing the better typically. Formula One wings are mandated at a certain height to limit downforce. Same thing with the ALMS LMP-1 and LMP-2 class prototypes. You can see in this model that the flow separation region after the top of the windshield extends well past the rear of the car and contains the wing.