Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed (Engineering and Performance) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Race Car Aerodynamics" is the first book to summarize the secrets of the rapidly developing field of high-speed vehicle design. Author Joseph Katz provides clear explanations for both the engineer who wants to improve his or her design skills and enthusiasts who simply want to understand how their favorite race cars go fast.

-How aerodynamics win races. Why downforce is more important than

streamlining and drag reduction

-Wind tunnel designs, methods and results-what you can and can't believe

-Special overview section reviews the fundamentals of aerodynamics

-Full definitions of terms, with equations and examples provided for

determining key aerodynamic parameters like Drag, Lift and Side-force

coefficients, fluid viscosity, or wind-tunnel corrections

-Designing wings and venturis-what works and what doesn't

-Numerous examples using specific race cars: passenger-based, prototypes,

and open-wheel designs Drawing upon his extensive research and experience in the field of aerodynamics, the author has produced a comprehensive data base that will become a standard in its field. Whether you are a designer, instructor, or enthusiast, "Race Car Aerodynamics" will give you the essential information on what makes race cars fast.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Bentley Publishers (August 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0837601428
• ISBN-13: 978-0837601427
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #77,028 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #56 in	Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Racing
  #78 in	Books > Sports > Miscellaneous > Motor Sports

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid, but not dazzling..., June 21, 2000

By	Lawrence Bird (Virginia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author does an excellent job of giving a layman's intro to auto-aerodynamics and the text is quite useful for a fan trying to understand what all those wings, bills and slots are supposed to do on CART, F1, IRL cars. It is clear that the author is very well versed in the subject of aerodynamics. Regrettably, he seems more intrigued by aerodynamics, than automobile aerodynamics and he draws the line of application to autos so shallowly that a serious reader will have to go to other aero-texts to actually apply what is offered here. This does not mean that he doesn't discuss at length, things like wings, slots, boundry-layers and a modest discussion of laminar flow (which is curious, since it is rarely achieved to any large degree -- the chronic automobile problem of turbulance producing bumps, ridges, seams and other protrusions, coupled with awful pressure gradients except perhaps on land speed record cars) and that part of the text is interesting.

There is an ongoing -- and intriguing, but not thorough -- discussion of the exotics of the racing world and he looks at open-wheeled cars quite often, but there a noticeable lack of discussion of open-wheel v. mud-flap bodywork. But the discussion of the challanges of racing at high-speeds in relatively stock-bodied autos is superficial at best. As an example, with all the aero-difficulties that NASCAR stockers have had staying on the ground for the past 15-years, there is limited discussion and the reader is left with one picture of an old Pontiac sedan drafting -- you will have to really read between the lines to figure out what a spoiler does, let alone how this most basic device works. However, if you dig, a reader can extrapolate some useful, but minimal, lift/drag/downforce data from some of the tables in the book...

Unfortunately, the good professor didn't give us the benifit of much of his obvious knowledge -- it seems to be an honest look at the automobile, but through the eyes of a Cessna, Boeing or Lockheed designer. A great book at half the price, but if your interests or racing rules require a relatively stock sedan or sports-car body configuration, there are other books with a more thorough treatment of the subject in this price range.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Katz obviously know his stuff and is current on technology, October 28, 1998

By A Customer

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and informative. The author clearly showed a great deal of familiarity with race cars and does a good job of laying out concepts without overcoming the reader with formulas or technical jargon. At the same time, he addresses some very cutting edge concepts such as the use of micro-vortex generators for drag reduction, and ground effects and exhaust powered ejectors for down force. There is certainly enough material covered to keep the most avid aerodynamicist interested and looking for more. Personally, I would love to see a follow up book published that goes into more technical detail, but I'm sure the author doesn't want to give up all of his secrets.

The only place where I did find the book lacking was in addressing vortex flow. Passenger automobiles are using turbulent air flow more often these days, primarily to reduce drag, yet none of the tricks you see commonly on Porsches or Corvettes, or even on every day sedans were addressed. Hopefully the author is saving this for his next book.

Overall I would definitely recommend that anyone interested in exotic cars, either as a spectator or operator, add this book to their collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good introductory book, December 13, 2001

By	"cymrx7r1" (Hampton, VA United States) - See all my reviews

If you've never taken a fluids course or are not a racing fan, this book will be a good introduction for both. It's not anywhere nearly as technical as his other books ("Low-Speed Aerodynamics" is arguably the standard in inviscid flows and on the shelf of most aero/fluids grad student), thankfully.

VERY basic on fluid mechanics/dynamics and scrapes the surface on racecar aerodynamics, but almost everybody in our wind tunnel (Langley Full Scale Tunnel) has a copy!