aerodynamics and slipstream

[acidreach]

GT5 emulates some form of slipstream but has anyone noticed or aware of any loss of downforce on higher aerodynamic dependent vehicles while following cars through high speed corners?

If you slipstream a car in front and pull out to overtake once you have gained extra momentum, is your vehicle subject to sudden air resistance and deceleration as it should be?

 

[MOTORTRENDmitch]

I have noticed a few things about downforces relationship to slip stream.

If you are going around a highspeed bend, following someone, you should have less downforce on your front wheels simply because you don't have as much air passing over the splitter that produces the down force. Making your car want to understeer more.

Another thing I have noticed is the when the opposite event occurs. Going around a highspeed bend with someone following closely behind will take the air off your rear wing, and cut back on your downforce. Making you feel lose in the rear.

 

[counter345]

In GT5 in a car with high downforce properties, I find it difficult to keep up with a car in front in the corners and I tend to understeer more, so I believe it is somewhat in the game.

 

[iamsupernasty]

For sure this game models aero related to slipstream. I've never felt aero loose like Mitch mentions, but the Aero tight stuff DEFINITELY happens.

 

[Exorcet]

I doubt the draft does anything to lift.

If you're using the ridiculous super draft (ie anything that isn't the weak draft) the reason for the feeling of loss of downforce is just a result of going faster into a corner.

I have noticed a few things about downforces relationship to slip stream.

If you are going around a highspeed bend, following someone, you should have less downforce on your front wheels simply because you don't have as much air passing over the splitter that produces the down force. Making your car want to understeer more.

Another thing I have noticed is the when the opposite event occurs. Going around a highspeed bend with someone following closely behind will take the air off your rear wing, and cut back on your downforce. Making you feel lose in the rear.

Actually, when you draft another car it's not just the front of the car that's affected. It's everything. Whether the front or rear loses more downforce isn't always easy to determine.

If PD were to go a step up with the drafting model, beyond just modeling it as a simple velocity defect in the air, you would start to see some interesting things. For example, the lead car benefiting the from the draft and the trailing car getting a drag penalty. This has been known to happen, and it could probably be modeled within the scope of GT. But for now, just negatively scaling lift and drag is probably enough. PD still needs to do a lot of work when it comes to lift, they don't model it as well as drag. And there are areas where drag needs work too probably.

Also, about getting loose in the rear, the car behind won't take air off the rear wing, but it will induce a high pressure zone between the two cars. This could lead to rear lift.

 

[iamsupernasty]

If you want evidence, take a fast car to Motegi Super Speedway (on sports tire).

With nobody in front of you, test the speed you can carry through turn 1 while hugging the white line.

Do the same test again with somebody in front of you.

I can guarantee you cannot hold the same speed as you did by yourself while still hugging the line. That is fact, not opinion. I've seen it hundreds of times.

 

[Exorcet]

I can guarantee you cannot hold the same speed as you did by yourself while still hugging the line. That is fact, not opinion. I've seen it hundreds of times.

Of course, you're going faster = more g required to make the turn.

Do that again, but keep the speed exactly the same in both cases and you'll probably end up on the same line.

 

[Denilson]

"Dirty air" defenetly affect the following cars handling. No doubt.

 

[iamsupernasty]

Of course, you're going faster = more g required to make the turn.

Do that again, but keep the speed exactly the same in both cases and you'll probably end up on the same line.

No, you are misunderstanding. The draft here is moot. The front car can carry more speed than the rear car can because the rear car wont be able to hold as tight a line, because the front washes away.