Is the Aston Martin DB11's virtual spoiler a gimmick?
Can anyone on CT confirm whether the DB11’s ‘virtual spoiler’ - which supposedly channels air from its side window intakes, through the body and out of the boot/trunk, and achieves the same aero effect as a conventional pop out wing - can really act as a replacement?
I do believe that it is functional, but how functional is it? Just seems difficult to believe that channelled air can have the same effectiveness as a physical obstacle. I’m quite curious about this new innovation. Would appreciate any informative feedback.
Comments
I dont think this will work. But me being a 14 year old wont help this.
It’s just that downforce is created when air moves over a spoiler or wing. Not when it moves into something… Reading about automobile aerodynamics and CFD has helped with this answer.
I think this would work if there was a duct over the wheels that channeled air. Not if it moved through the body.
Air Brake?
I think it would have to move the air sufficiently quickly to have any sort of effect, I think. By using MY 14-year-old physics, I think that Bernoulli’s effect would mean that in order to create a low pressure zone around the rear of the car, you’d need to move the air quite quickly. Of course, I’ve completely ignored that air’s transition into freestream for a reason…
The downforce is created when the air essentially crashes into a wingcreating a wind resistence that pushes the wing down, this is why aero is kind of a trade off and active aero is a thing, atmospheric air is still a physical entity so concentrating it and channeling it in a way that it causes wind resistance in that way probably will cause downforce, not entirely sure how effective it is though because air obviously isn’t as solid and predictable as a physical wing
Jono S Mehdi Behira Ruggragg Interesting points… I agree that the effectiveness of the virtual spoiler creating useable downforce does seem a little questionable, but now I also think the points about the spoiler creating enough air to disturb the airflow and minimise drag (and maybe a little bit of downforce and stability) does seem to be likely. Appreciate the feedback!
You would be surprised with the effectiveness a simple jet of air can have. Dyson use similar physics to create their bladeless fans.
When you look at a car in a wind tunnel with the white smoke lines and stuff, its not only the air in contact with the car that gets influenced, its the alot of air that is in the close vicinity of the vehicle. A simple cushion of air can make a huge difference.
That is also why it is more aerodynamic to drive a pickup truck with the bay door closed than hanging open. A cushion of air in the bay prevents turbulent air from forming, minimizing drag. What Aston has done is different but follows the same philosophy
Never thought of that, it does make sense now that you mention it - the air just has to be disturbed, not necessarily completely deflected. Thanks man
They probably wouldnt do it if it didn’t work. more expensive cars don’t really need gimmicks. However it couldn’t be nearly as effective because there s less air being altered than a traditional wing with a high surface area
Sounds a bit like a rear diffuser, using newton’s 2nd law I would guess it does work. The question is is it enough air to actually make a difference.
Both this and the wing are physical obstacles. This one is just more discrete. I expect that it will have a large impact. Also, this car is intended to hit 200 mph. You aren’t going to put fake aero on it.