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CourseAutomotive & Motorsport Applications open

Aerodynamics course for flat bottoms and Venturi tunnels

Online course of 300 hours in flat-floor and Venturi tunnel aerodynamics: 6 modules covering ground effect and the Venturi principle, tunnel geometry, porpoising and stability, simulation and wind tunnel testing, and set-up with a flat floor, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the Venturi principle applied to the vehicle floor.

02

Design tunnel geometry within the regulations.

03

Analyse porpoising and its causes.

04

Simulate the floor in CFD and in the wind tunnel.

05

Relate suspension ride height to the downforce generated.

06

Propose set-up adjustments for the flat floor.

07

Validate floor behaviour with real data.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Floor aerodynamicists.
  • CFD engineers.
  • Vehicle dynamics engineers.
  • Track engineers.
  • Wind tunnel technicians.
  • Chassis designers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter formula racing.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations (technical rules for Formula 1 cars)
  • Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code (technical regulations for competition vehicles)
  • FIA Formula 2 Technical Regulations (technical rules for Formula 2 cars)
  • SAE J1594 (vehicle aerodynamics terminology)
  • ASME V&V 20 (verification and validation in CFD)
  • AIAA G-077-1998 (guide for the verification and validation of CFD simulations)
  • STAR-CCM+
  • Ansys Fluent
  • CATIA V5
  • MATLAB
  • MoTeC i2 Pro
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1The Venturi principle applied to the floor
  2. 1.2History of ground effect in F1
  3. 1.3Ride height and flow acceleration
  4. 1.4Venturi channels and throat
  5. 1.5Skirts and lateral sealing
  6. 1.6Edge vortices for sealing
  7. 1.7Stepped flat floor
  8. 1.8F1 2022 technical regulations
  9. 1.9Advantages for following another car
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: calculating suction with Bernoulli
  1. 2.1Tunnel inlet and ramps
  2. 2.2Throat section and minimum area
  3. 2.3Curvature of the tunnel roof
  4. 2.4Leading-edge fences
  5. 2.5Transition to the diffuser
  6. 2.6Side edges and floor edge
  7. 2.7Effect of floor width
  8. 2.8Regulatory reference zones
  9. 2.9Plank and minimum ride height
  10. 2.10Workshop: modelling a tunnel in CAD
  1. 3.1The porpoising phenomenon
  2. 3.2Loss of downforce through loss of sealing
  3. 3.3Vertical stiffness and oscillation
  4. 3.4Bouncing versus porpoising
  5. 3.5Aerodynamic oscillation metric
  6. 3.6Stiffness and ride height adjustment
  7. 3.7Floor flexing
  8. 3.8Sensitivity to bumps
  9. 3.9Effect on the driver
  10. 3.10Case study: diagnosing porpoising with data
  1. 4.1CFD with a moving ground
  2. 4.2Scale model testing
  3. 4.3Correlation between wind tunnel and track
  4. 4.4Front and rear ride height sweeps
  5. 4.5Aerodynamic maps as a function of ride heights
  6. 4.6Balance forces
  7. 4.7Flow-visualisation paint
  8. 4.8Scale errors
  9. 4.9Interpretation of results
  10. 4.10Laboratory: ride height sweep in CFD
  1. 5.1Dynamic ride height
  2. 5.2Rake and its effect on the floor
  3. 5.3Plank wear
  4. 5.4Use of bump stops and heave springs
  5. 5.5Laser ride height sensors
  6. 5.6Trade-off between stiffness and downforce
  7. 5.7Adjustment by circuit
  8. 5.8Bumps and kerbs
  9. 5.9Post-race technical scrutineering
  10. 5.10Case study: ride height set-up for a bumpy circuit
  1. 6.1Requirements and constraints
  2. 6.2Tunnel design
  3. 6.3Simulation of variants
  4. 6.4Stability study
  5. 6.5Set-up recommendations
  6. 6.6Validation plan
  7. 6.7Porpoising risk analysis
  8. 6.8Plank wear estimation
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, CATIA V5, MATLAB and MoTeC i2 Pro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures: CFD ride height sweeps, diagnosing porpoising with data and on-track ride height adjustment. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.

Standards covered: FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations; Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code; FIA Formula 2 Technical Regulations; SAE J1594; ASME V&V 20; AIAA G-077-1998.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations, Appendix J and the FIA Formula 2 Technical Regulations applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, CATIA V5, MATLAB and MoTeC i2 Pro, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete Venturi floor design with stability study, set-up recommendations and porpoising risk analysis, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Requirements and tunnel design
Define the requirements and constraints and design the Venturi tunnels.
Variant simulation
Simulate the design variants in CFD.
Stability study
Study floor stability and analyse the risk of porpoising.
Set-up and validation plan
Draw up set-up recommendations, a validation plan and a plank wear estimate.
Final project
Present the floor design and report for final review with your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Floor aerodynamicistCFD engineerVehicle dynamics engineerTrack engineerWind tunnel technicianChassis designer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, CATIA V5, MATLAB and MoTeC i2 Pro, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required: you only need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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