DIY wing?

[MazdaMatt]

I want to design and build a wing. Anybody know of a DIY guide? I have done a lot of reading and I understand the requirements. I would like to get a cross-section somewhat optimized to the conditions that my car will see, and I'd like to make it from wood (frame) and fiberglass or CF shell with aluminum side plates.

[tlaneyyz]

I knew I saw these articles somewhere.....

http://casc.on.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=10286&highlight=WING+DOWNFORCE

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/wingendplates.html


This is a very interesting read!!

Ted

[MazdaMatt]

Aaah, i remember seeing that post when it was alive. Thanks.

[max attack]

Racecar engineering did a multi part wing design series,Simon McBeath is the author-should be easy enough to search out.

I'm a very long ways from being a composites know it all but the building from wood and covering in glass will be plenty heavy,the weight will offset any downforce I suspect.

Build a solid wooden plug in the shape you desire,knot free and bonded together with epoxy not carpenter glue.Afters its shaped you can build a flange at the leading/trailing edge centerlines,a thin cut to allow a thin strip of sheetmetal inserted to follow it should work.
Prep the plug with LOTS of mould release wax(I used an additional coat of PVA,water based mould release that can be sprayed or brushed on for added assurance)3 coats of wax should do it.Then build only half at a time,after each half is popped off the plug they can be bonded together and 1 layer of glass wrapping the entire part.
This will give you strength from its curves and light weight because its empty.

Hope this helps even a little bit.:)

[MazdaMatt]

re: building of wood and covering of fibreglass... I plan on building a hollow skeleton of a wing. Using 5-6 cross-sections of lightweight, thin wood, stung together with dowling. The wooden structure should weight about a pound. A thin cloth wrapping plus hardener should be another pound. This is what some model airplane people use (ie, it CAN'T be heavy).

My girlfriend's father works in the aero industry and has told me he can help me to design this and use carbon fibre instead of glass. Apparently pre-preg CF is easier to work with and lighter and stronger than FG.

[max attack]

With that method will it no be saggy between the supports?.

I would think it would be hard to get the smooth consistant curves required to keep the airflow attached.I'm going to build one next winter for my car,using the above method I think.

Good luck with the build,show some pictures too eh.:)

[MazdaMatt]

it'll be a slow process. I figure I can manage without any sag.

I saw another method, however. Using the supports as a guide, styrofoam was hot-wire cut and used as the body of the wing and wrapped with one layer of FG and one layer of CF.

So, the supports are cut out, holes are drilled for dowling. The dowling goes through the end support, then through a block of styrofoam, then the next support, then a block, etc, then the styro is cut down to the same shape as the supports and it is all wrapped.

there are options...

[ScotcH]

I would think the styrofoam is your best bet. It will hold it's shape, and is very light for the size. A couple of wood (or aluminum) prfile ribs and you're good to go. Don't forget a gurney flap!

[MazdaMatt]

Don't forget a gurney flap!

;)

[MazdaMatt]

Anybody got CAD drawings and details for what those CAD drawings were designed for? Maybe an engineering school project? (I don't be selling anything on your design)

Any CAD is fine, but OrCAD is preferred as I have easy access to it.