What is a car spoiler and how does it work?

What is a car spoiler?

Car spoilers are a type of inverted aircraft tail, often seen on the back box cover of automobiles. While some cars have a front spoiler, known as an air dam, others are fitted with side skirts. More commonly referred to as the car tail, the rear spoiler gives the car a dynamic look and greatly reduces air resistance when driving at high speeds, making it more fuel-efficient and improving the vehicle's stability.

What does a car spoiler do?

According to the principle of aerodynamics, we know that the car will encounter air resistance during the driving process, which includes forces from three directions: the longitudinal, lateral side and vertical rising forces. And the air resistance is proportional to the square of the speed, that is, the lift force at the speed of l20km/h is 4 times that of 60km/h, and 9 times that of 40km/h. The faster you drive, the greater the air resistance is.

At speeds greater than 60 km/h, the effect of air resistance on the car becomes increasingly apparent. A spoiler installed at the rear of the car is one way to counteract this drag. The fourth force generated by the spoiler provides a downward pressure, counterbalancing the lift force caused by the air resistance and preventing the car from losing stability.

Not only does the rear spoiler help with driving stability, but it can also lead to fuel savings. On the highway, a 1.6L vehicle with a spoiler may see a 10% decrease in fuel consumption compared to a car without one.

Aerodynamic principles of car spoilers

Apart from adding to the car's aesthetic appeal, the rear spoiler increases its grip and stability when going at high speeds, and helps it maintain balance while turning, while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption. How does this work? It all comes down to the aerodynamic principles behind the lift mechanism of an aircraft's wings.

The airplane is subject to gravity, air resistance, push, and lift forces when flying, and its wings are designed to produce lift, rather than causing it to descend. As depicted in the following figure, the wing has a curved top and a comparatively flat bottom when the aircraft is in flight. As the wing moves through the air, the airflow is distributed accordingly.

The speed of the air dictates the air pressure, so the pressure under the wing is greater than the pressure above it. This difference in pressure produces a lift force that is stronger the faster the air is flowing. As such, airplanes require more speed for takeoff as the lift force must overcome the gravity of the aircraft.

As illustrated following figure, the side view of the car shares an analogous design to the shape of a wing. Its profile is asymmetrical, with the bottom of the vehicle being mostly flat and the top being curved. When it reaches a high speed, the front of the car diverts airflow, where some flow over the top of the car and some flow underneath, which contributes to the similarity of its structure to a wing.

At lower air speeds, the flow rate above is more rapid than the flow rate below, thus creating an upward pressure that is greater than the downward pressure. This difference in pressure causes a lift force to occur, influencing the car's movement at higher speeds. The Bernoulli equation states that as speed increases, the lift force will also increase. When reaching an extreme speed, the lift force can be so great that it surpasses the vehicle's gravitational pull, potentially causing it to roll over.

In an effort to counteract the lift force, people implemented an anti-wing device onto the car, otherwise known as a car spoiler, that produces a downforce.

Types of car spoilers

Rear Spoiler

Many cars now come with spoilers, not only for decorative purposes but also for improved stability and aerodynamics. These additions make the car look sleeker and more dynamic while increasing its performance.

Front Spoiler

An air dam, commonly known as a front spoiler, is designed to extend the front bumper downwards. This reduces the amount of air that can enter the underside of the car, thus mitigating the lift created by the rushing air.

Side Spoiler

A side spoiler (or side skirt) is a skirt plate mounted on either side of the vehicle. Similar to an air dam, it helps reduce air flow into the underside of the car, resulting in reduced air resistance under certain conditions.

Honpe’s Role in car spoiler

Honpe Tech stands at the forefront of rapid automotive part production, offering exceptional advantages when it comes to precision and aesthetics for even small-scale spoiler orders - all with just one piece as the minimum requirement.

1. 500+ professional equipment including 25+ CNC machining center;

2. 24-year of CMF experience for small digital products to large-size auto parts, making your spoiler more outstanding.

Honpe maintains the utmost confidentiality with your information and designs, as previously discussed in a prior post. We are always available to answer any questions you have regarding Honpe and our production capability.

Website: www.honpe.com

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