F1 Technical terms

[coysht]

To make full use of this new Technical forum, I thought it would be a great idea to have a thread that is purely devoted to the many technical terms used in F1 and what they mean.

If you have a term you don't understand, post it here and between us we will come up with an explanation that is easy to understand, and either myself or a moderator will add it to the second post of this thread as a permanent reference for everyone.

Please try and keep discussion purely to suggesting of terms to be defined and the defining of said terms.


(note to moderators, please add new definitions in alphabetical order for ease of reference)

Will do...

[coysht]

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Bargeboard (Deflector) -
A section of bodywork mounted on the side of the chassis between the front wheels and the sidepods, designed to improve the aerodynamics of the car.
Its primary function is as a turning vane that manages the flow of air to the radiators and around the sidepods to the rear of the car. More recently they have played a role in modifying the airflow under the sidepod itself to help the diffuser.



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Bib -
The front part of the floor. Sits under the chassis and under the driver.

Can be seen below in the reflection under this Renault:




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Deflector (see Bargeboard)

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Flap (wing) -
Element of the front and rear wings which sits behind the Main Plane, at a higher angle to generate more downforce.

(Insert good, small picture here)

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Gurney Flap -
A small strip of carbon at the back of, and at right angles to, the wing Flap (or other aero element) which increases downforce by modifying the pressure on both sides of the element to which it is attached. Can easily be trimmed for fine tuning of downforce.


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Lower Main Plane (Rear) -
Joins bottom of the endplates to the crash structure on the gearbox. Acts as another aerodynamically profiled element of the rear wing.
Unless it is otherwise supported, all rear wing loading will pass through this member.


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Monocoque (aka 'Tub' or Chassis) -

The central part of the chassis which contains the cockpit.
The nose, front suspension and fuel cell fit directly onto it, as well as the sidepods and engine to the side and rear.
Made from thick shells of carbon fibre with a structural Aluminium honey comb between them.


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Pylon -
Vertical support pillars for the rear wing. Normally running from the top of the gearbox to the centre of the Uppler Main Plane. Previosuly used as the only method of rear wing support, untill the advent of the Lower Main Plane.
Now being re-introduced to transfer structural loading away from the Lower Main Plane and End Plates, to allow them to be lighter, thinner and better aerodynamically.


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Reference Plane -
Plane from which all vertical measurements are made. Lies above the skid block/plank and bellow the main section of the floor.


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Upper Main Plane (Rear) -
The lower of the two elements that make up the top section of the rear wing.

(Insert good, small picture here)
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[coysht]

Anyone got any photos of the various bits of a rear wing separate from each other?
There was that dis-assembled Ferrari (F2002 or something) the other year that might have what I'm looking for.

[S.F. 1]

Originally posted by coysht
Anyone got any photos of the various bits of a rear wing separate from each other?
There was that dis-assembled Ferrari (F2002 or something) the other year that might have what I'm looking for.

What you mean with the dis-assembled Ferrari ?

Here I have a few....they're not really of seperate bits and they're rather large....I can remove them if you like and search for some real good ones on Friday when I have more time....

[coysht]

Originally posted by S.F. 1
What you mean with the dis-assembled Ferrari ?

Here I have a few....they're not really of seperate bits and they're rather large....I can remove them if you like and search for some real good ones on Friday when I have more time....

Nice photos - leave them up, they may come in handy.


I was refering to a photo from an article in a magazine where they had taken most of the parts of a Ferrari and layed them out on the floor in roughly their position on the car.

[Tifoso]

Originally posted by coysht
Nice photos - leave them up, they may come in handy.


I was refering to a photo from an article in a magazine where they had taken most of the parts of a Ferrari and layed them out on the floor in roughly their position on the car.

That was in F1 Racing Magazine...

[S.F. 1]

Originally posted by coysht
Nice photos - leave them up, they may come in handy.

I was refering to a photo from an article in a magazine where they had taken most of the parts of a Ferrari and layed them out on the floor in roughly their position on the car.

This one ?

[coysht]

Precise-a-mundo!

You star.

Shame it doesnt have the endplates of the rear wing, but that'll be very usefull for other parts.

[coysht]

Since things have got a tad quiet round here, thought me might as well have some more stuff for people to suggest definitions for:

Airhorn

Deflector (Bargeboard)

Bib

[Tobes]

coysht, was looking for a definition for 'Bargeboard' and stumbled onto...
http://formula1.about.com/od/formula...ry/index_a.htm
Have copied relevant ones below, although I think we could do better than some of them if we amended them a bit....

What do you think....?

Definitions:

Aerodynamics - (or aero for short) in Formula One is the science of understanding how air flows over and affects all components of a Formula One race car.

Apex - The apex is the midpoint of the inside line through a corner that a driver aims at.

Ballast - Ballast is weight that is added to modify the balance of a car and ensure that it reaches the minimum weight requirement.

Bargeboard - A bargeboard is a section of bodywork that is mounted between the front wheels and the sidepods, designed to improve the aerodynamics of the car.

Blistering - the deterioration of tires, often caused by heat but also resulting from selecting the wrong tire for a particular circuit, a poorly set up car, or excessive tire pressure.

Bottoming - occurs when the cars chassis makes contact with the race track.

Brake Balance - refers to how much of the braking power goes to the front and rear of the vehicle. The driver has access to a switch in the cockpit that can adjust the amount of brake balance that goes to the front and rear brakes.

Chassis - The chassis is the main structure of the racing car. The engine and suspension are attached to the chassis.

Chicane - A chicane is a series of very tight corners in alternate directions, typically constructed at circuits to slow the cars.

Clean Air - A general racing term used to describe air that isn't disturbed by other cars. The leader is generally driving in clean air, as there are no other cars in front to create air turbulence.

Downforce - The downward pressure created by the aerodynamics of the car as it travels forward.

Drag - The wind resistance experienced as the racing car travels forward and air moves across its exposed surfaces.

Grip - The amount of traction that a car has at any point, largely determined by the tires, the track surface, and downforce exerted on the car.

Left foot braking - A method of braking that originated in the 1990s when hand clutches were developed, enabling drivers to keep their right foot on the throttle, leaving their left foot to brake.

Lollipop - The sign on a stick held in front of the car during a pit stop which informs the driver to apply the brakes and when to shift into first gear.

Monocoque - The single-piece tub in which the cockpit is located.

Oversteer - Occurs when the car's rear end has difficulty cornering and slides forward, attempting to overtake the front end. Oversteer can be corrected by the driver by turning the front wheels into the skid when it occurs.

Paddles are the levers on either side of the steering wheel that are used to change gears.

Parc Ferme - A fenced-off area where cars must be parked after qualifying, and may only be approached by team members if an official is present.

Pit Board - A sign that is held out on the pit wall to inform a driver of his race position, the time interval to the next cars, as well as how many laps remain.

[coysht]

They're definately a good start for a definative definition.


As far as the editing, depends on how detailed we want to go. What they have there appears to be a guide for people who don't follow F1 too closely, whereas alot of people round here will know all of those and need a chunk more.

For example:

Deflector/Bargeboard could be described as about, or you could start taking about it as a turning vane that manages the flow of air to the radiators and around the sidepods to the rear of the car. As well as their more recent role in modifying the airflow under the sidepod itself to help the diffuser.

[Tobes]

Yeah, definately a bit 'F1 guide for the uneducated', agree need more detail on most of them, could just use them as a start and have both...

Bargeboard - A bargeboard is a section of bodywork that is mounted between the front wheels and the sidepods, designed to improve the aerodynamics of the car.
A turning vane that manages the flow of air to the radiators and around the sidepods to the rear of the car. As well as their more recent role in modifying the airflow under the sidepod itself to help the diffuser.


Well that's one then....

Also think pics of all of them would be good... Yay/nay....?

[coysht]

Originally posted by Tobes
Yeah, definately a bit 'F1 guide for the uneducated', agree need more detail on most of them, could just use them as a start and have both...

Bargeboard - A bargeboard is a section of bodywork that is mounted between the front wheels and the sidepods, designed to improve the aerodynamics of the car.
A turning vane that manages the flow of air to the radiators and around the sidepods to the rear of the car. As well as their more recent role in modifying the airflow under the sidepod itself to help the diffuser.


Well that's one then....

Also think pics of all of them would be good... Yay/nay....?

So cunning you could pin a tale on it and call it a fox!


A recent Ferrari is probably your best bet for a pic as the white on red shows up nicely.


Also, I would enter it as Deflector/Bargeboard and put a "see other" entry on the list as well. Both terms are widely used in F1, so best to have both.

On this topic, if anyone knows of another name for any of the above parts, let us know - will all help with the definitions.

[Tobes]

Originally posted by coysht
So cunning you could pin a tale on it and call it a fox!

: : :

"More cunning than a fox, who is professor of cunning at Cunning University" ...

[Tobes]

[coysht]

I wonder if the first of those pictures couldn't start a thread all of its own to do with actually driving F1 cars, sort of a guide to racing lines and technique?

[Tobes]

Originally posted by coysht
I wonder if the first of those pictures couldn't start a thread all of its own to do with actually driving F1 cars, sort of a guide to racing lines and technique?

Whatever you think mate, just trying to find a few pics to go with some of the definitions....

Could use this one for apex instead...



...and use the first one as you suggest...

[google]

http://www.f1technical.net/glossary/

lots of technical terms in there :)

[Nik_I]

Originally posted by coysht
Nice photos - leave them up, they may come in handy.


I was refering to a photo from an article in a magazine where they had taken most of the parts of a Ferrari and layed them out on the floor in roughly their position on the car.

i believe they also did this with a 2004 BAR

[BrotherWolf]

Thanks for the heads up. At the Motorshow in London this year thy had a "3D" BAR Homda in a glass box. They had laid out each individual bit and then hung them from the ceiling in the order of assembly. I will see if I can get any pictures of it as it gives a good insight to the construction of an F1 car.

[Tifoso]

Originally posted by BrotherWolf
Thanks for the heads up. At the Motorshow in London this year thy had a "3D" BAR Homda in a glass box. They had laid out each individual bit and then hung them from the ceiling in the order of assembly. I will see if I can get any pictures of it as it gives a good insight to the construction of an F1 car.

Awesome av. USGP 2003?

[coysht]

Definitions updated to include 'bib'

[coysht]

Pitot Tube

A device that measures pressure such that air speed over the car can be calculated. Normally mounted on the top of the nose (along with radio antennas) but during testing larger tubes are sometimes mounted from the roll-hoop or camera.

Images to follow....



Roll hoop

The roll-over protection for the driver. An integral part of the monocoque, it also forms the intake for the engine airhorn.

Images to follow....

[Grinsomx]

i have question for you, could you explain what the difuser is? this has been puzzling me for quite some time now and i did not really find the place or time to ask this, let alone start a new thread about it. thx in advance (and feel free to delete this post) thanks in advance

[coysht]

(shamelessly ripped from one of our earlier diffuser discussions. Not really the nicest description but its a start, and I'm sure we'll add to it over time)

The diffuser
Firstly, the diffuser is basically a device that expands the air from under the car and slows it down. This creates a lower pressure under the floor of the car, effectively 'sucking' the car down (term sucking used loosely).
This is Bernoulli's principle of a higher velocity generating a reduction in pressure. Since the pressure above the car is higher than that bellow it, the car is pushed down onto the track.
The diffuser is made up of a series of sloped 'ducts' increasing in height as they leave the floor section of the car.

[Ste]

I'm not new to thescuderia.net but I have rarely delved into the threads in the technical forum. From now on, I swear to be a regular reader and hopefully poster.

The information you guys post here is brilliant, very detailed and informative, especially for people who aren't quite as technical.

Absolutely Fantastic

Thanks A Lot.