Title: Top-Fuel Dragster Wing Design Using CFD and Its Influence on Vehicle Dynamic Performance
Author(s): T.M. Buratti
Date: December 2000
Pages: 144
Formats: pdf (1367 KB)
Abstract:
Scope and Method of Study: The scope of the thesis is to develop a dynamic dragster model that will provide insight into the aerodynamics of the rear wing effects on a top-fuel dragster's overall performance. It was never know how much down force is needed for these vehicles but study of this dynamic model provides this information. This research focuses on top-fuel dragsters running on a quarter mile drag strip. By using a CFD code to analyze rear wing designs this data can be implemented into the dynamic model and can determine how the wing effects the dragster performance. Lift and drag will be varied in the dynamic model and plots will show how each parameter effects the elapsed time and top speed of the dragster.
Findings and Conclusions: Development of the dragster model proved beneficial in understanding how the aerodynamic characteristics affect the performance of the dragster. This model allows us to understand the questions of how much down force is needed and how changing these aerodynamic characteristics will truly effect the performance of the dragster. Development of these elapsed time versus speed curves for various lift and drag coefficients allows us to determine a trend as to how these aerodynamic characteristics can improve performance. It was always said that these dragsters want as much down force as possible but from this model it is not necessarily true. What was shown to be the most beneficial is the reduction of the drag and the reduction of the coefficient of lift up to a certain point. The current wings used on top-fuel dragsters produce an enormous amount of down force and along with this comes an enormous amount of induced drag. Designing a wing that will take advantage of the knowledge gained from this model proved to increase the top speed but more importantly reduce the elapsed time which is how you win races.
Revised: October 19, 2000 [TJC]