DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**leangarance** · 06-05-2011, 05:17 PM

The fact remains that the CFD method has resulted in a car that is good enough to take its place in the F1 grid, qualifies within the 107% and in only its second season, on what is probably the lowest budget in F1. The experiment was a success in my eyes, and is just the tip of the iceberg, the sheer amount of learning they have to do with their system and design process is immense and they are obviously not far from the right track. I think its a real pity its not been given another couple of years to see the benefits start to come through.

+1

CFD is based on mathematical models that need to be validated in real life or in a scale wind tunnel at least (these also need to be validated on track anyway). It is impossible to use CFD only based on theory alone.

Truth is that lack of in season testing is not good for them at all.
Lack of funding is making it even worse.

Nick Wirth has already shown that CFD alone works. Obviously the ALMS is a different series to F1 but the success of the Acura shows that CFD can do the job.

I agree with you that the lack of testing, and Virgin's limited funding has made things very difficult for the team, but that is one of the reasons why they chose the CFD approach.

I don't consider Wirth, or his use of CFD, to be a failure. If, in a few months time, Virgin have taken big steps up the grid then that argument could be made, but time will tell.

06-05-2011, 05:17 PM	#15
leangarance Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 499 Senior Member	The fact remains that the CFD method has resulted in a car that is good enough to take its place in the F1 grid, qualifies within the 107% and in only its second season, on what is probably the lowest budget in F1. The experiment was a success in my eyes, and is just the tip of the iceberg, the sheer amount of learning they have to do with their system and design process is immense and they are obviously not far from the right track. I think its a real pity its not been given another couple of years to see the benefits start to come through. +1 CFD is based on mathematical models that need to be validated in real life or in a scale wind tunnel at least (these also need to be validated on track anyway). It is impossible to use CFD only based on theory alone. Truth is that lack of in season testing is not good for them at all. Lack of funding is making it even worse. Nick Wirth has already shown that CFD alone works. Obviously the ALMS is a different series to F1 but the success of the Acura shows that CFD *can* do the job. I agree with you that the lack of testing, and Virgin's limited funding has made things very difficult for the team, but that is one of the reasons why they chose the CFD approach. I don't consider Wirth, or his use of CFD, to be a failure. If, in a few months time, Virgin have taken big steps up the grid then that argument could be made, but time will tell.
	Quote