Official aerodynamic / winglet thread [SPOILERS: Nerds inside !!111!]

[kevin 714]

 

[Shaggy]

Yup....

 

[latindane]

From EBD's quote about the ZX-12R:

Small winglets on either side of the fairing may be mistaken for creating downforce when they actually separate airflow around the motorcycle, preventing turbulent air coming off the front wheel from disturbing the laminar airflow along the upper portion of the fairing. Separating the laminar flow and turbulence greatly enhances the fairing’s coefficient of drag.

I hadn't thought about this possibility. If that is part of what the gp winglets are doing, it might help explain the claims about more turbulence behind (because of the top/bottom difference), wouldn't it?

 

[clutchslip]

take note the 2000' ZX12R had 4 "winglets" to basically smooth airflow around the fairing/bike. A first for a stock bike; details:

That's nice, but a Hayabusa is still more aerodynamic without wings. In fact, it apparently has less drag than many bikes with smaller fairings. Here is one reference: Sport Rider Article

Those gills on the Yamaha might be to break up air flow, but they sure look like an attempt to create downforce. However, if it moves the air differently around the rider that might make a difference. Newer sportbike/race fairings are minuscule and actually let part of the body into the stream. If you do not fit that arrangement perfectly, you will lose efficiency. I have a fairings like this, where my shoulders are too wide for the fairing and I am losing speed. It's annoying, actually. With all the moving done on a road racer, perhaps the focus on a very limited amount of top speed is a mistake. I am not sure. I will try to crunch the numbers. Hopefully, Robert will help.

 

[ariacode]

An interesting idea that I don't see mentioned often:

In a fast corner with the larger, downward-swept wings, the outside wing produces a force straight down while the inside wing may be stalled by the rider's body.

Source Paper

 

[Map8]

Possible SPOILER content!








Anyone see comments from Honda or Yamaha riders after the race about instability following the Ducs?

 

[Enchanter]

Knowing Lorezno, "Those last 12 laps I did, leading the race, were the hardest I ever did. The Ducati had screwed all the air up on the track from its previous lap and my bike had a tough time going through it all."

Phanuel,

I realize that you are a fairly new BARFer, but we have a pretty defined policy regarding the posting of results of a race. Many people are unable to view the races the day of the event.

In the future, please refrain from posting anything regarding the events of a race.

Thank you.

EDIT:
I apologize to you. I misread the title of this thread. I didn't see the word SPOILER in the title. In the future, I'll avoid these threads until after I view the race.

 

[Shaggy]

Possible SPOILER content!








Anyone see comments from Honda or Yamaha riders after the race about instability following the Ducs?

There was jabber about that after FP1. It wouldn't surprise me though, given that Iannone's bike looks like an experimental fighter jet.

 

[EastBayDave]

From EBD's quote about the ZX-12R:


I hadn't thought about this possibility. If that is part of what the gp winglets are doing, it might help explain the claims about more turbulence behind (because of the top/bottom difference), wouldn't it?

I have to wonder about the placement being so much higher on the GP bikes than the 00' ZX12R. On the 12R the winglets were designed to smooth airflow around the lower fairing. On the GP bikes the size & placement would make me think they might be smoothing airflow around the rider instead?

Hmmm....

 

[latindane]

Possible SPOILER content

Too late

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