Brian Guo, Tibi Banica, Tom Howie, Marie De Zetter, Siddharth Swami, Shuyi Lu
The Aerodynamic Hardware team has designed and built a variable angle automotive spoiler that improves the handling of a car by producing aerodynamic down force on rear wheels. Using CFD and stress simulations, the team constructed a purely performance based design that provides optimal down force while reducing drag and withstanding the strong external forces that occur while driving. The final product includes the airfoil, actuator, mounting system, and a user interface. The airfoil consists of a carbon fiber shell with a foam core and a reinforcing carbon fiber rod. In addition, the actuator is used to adjust a flap at the end of the airfoil. By adjusting the flap, the spoiler’s angle of attack can be changed based on the car’s velocity and down force can be maximized. Aluminum mounts attach the spoiler to the trunk of the car. The user interface is mounted on the steering wheel, allowing the driver to easily switch between manual, automatic, and off settings in accordance with preference and driving style.