A study of wheel/rim aerodynamics...And an idea.

[Logic]

Just a study of wheel/rim aerodynamics I found and thought may be of interest here.
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/211225703.pdf
Nothing new really.

I'm interested in sucking some of the air under the car out with a fan type rim design..?
That means different, directional rims or wheel covers, so not interested in any so called aero designs that are the same on both the left and right of side of the car.
Anyone seen anything?

An idea:
A rim with round 'spokes' but 4 or 6 etc spokes way bigger than std wire wheels, onto which you fit the std aero teardrop/wing shape so that the 'wing' can swivel/weathercock any which way it likes, up to 90 degrees.

ie: the wing/s have a circular hole somewhere forward of the center of lift and slip over or 2 halves fit around the spokes.

If you lightly spring load them to center; you end up with a tiny bit of forward force from any side/cross wind/s...
Better for bikes, but there it is.
On a car one could spring load them somewhat 'inward' to give the 'suck air out' effect I spoke of.

Stop! Running off to the patent lawyer like that is just rude!

[Logic]

Ah here we go:
See the "Fan Blade Out' bits.
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/70600281.pdf

Not exactly what I had in mind: I'm thinking more solid circle, with 'thinner' fan slots.
ie: Way smaller gaps between the blades.

[Piotrsko]

Centrifical or centripedal force has been used in bathroom fans and vacuum cleaners for ages. Just straight vanes and a collection point. You wouldn't need the collection point.

Unsure about the drag association of vaned rims pumping air from underneath, suspect it's horrendous

[freebeard]

I'm interested in sucking some of the air under the car out with a fan type rim design..?

You'll need inboard brakes.


www.mooneyesusa.com/product-p/rw12-18300p.htm

If you don't need access to the brakes you could run spindle-mount wheels.

[aerohead]

I'm uncertain as to your target goal?

[freebeard]

Downforce?

[aerohead]

1) That would imply induced-drag, antithetical to 'aerodynamics.'
2) Downforce isn't an issue with passenger cars, so we'd be wasting energy to fix a problem which never existed!
'Folly' !

[freebeard]

Downforce isn't an issue with passenger cars,

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FeDoDl7Hy2c

Shorts don't embed.

[j-c-c]

Originally Posted by aerohead

1) That would imply induced-drag, antithetical to 'aerodynamics.'
2) Downforce isn't an issue with passenger cars, so we'd be wasting energy to fix a problem which never existed!
'Folly' !

I agree, two main sources of aero drag I see here, induced drag on the car body by maybe adding air where it disturbs the existing proper/acceptable air flow, and rotational air drag of the rotating wheel. Removing under car air for DF is most efficient energy wise achieved passively I believe. A wheel design for such task unfortunately is fixed, and unable to be tweaked as needed for the operating conditions. It was a solution on race cars in late 70's and faded away, for reasons I am uncertain about.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by j-c-c

I agree, two main sources of aero drag I see here, induced drag on the car body by maybe adding air where it disturbs the existing proper/acceptable air flow, and rotational air drag of the rotating wheel. Removing under car air for DF is most efficient energy wise achieved passively I believe. A wheel design for such task unfortunately is fixed, and unable to be tweaked as needed for the operating conditions. It was a solution on race cars in late 70's and faded away, for reasons I am uncertain about.

PORSCHE used 'fan' wheels for at least one season on it's IMSA GTP cars ( perhaps taking advantage of a 'hole' in the 'Rulebook', as Adrian Newey of Red Bull Formula-One is famous for ).
And then 'fading' from view the next season, as IMSA 'regulated' the technology out of existence ( like Phil Hill's 'vacuum-cleaner' Chaparral 2J ).