cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/26201585

So, I don’t know much about cars, but I generally expected for that part to be flush with the body. Is there any reason for there to be a grill like thing in front of the front door?

  • Etnaphele@lemmy.worldEnglish
    19·
    3 days ago

    It should be a pressure relief channel coming from the wheel arch: wheel rotation creates a complex air flow and I think this channel lets trapped air flow outwards (and stay attached to the vehicle sides, improving aerodynamics). Probably I got much wrong and more probably still, it’s of no real use for a road car driving under 200km/h.

    Edit: could also be linked to brake cooling, now that I think of it…

    • safesyrup@feddit.orgEnglish
      6·
      3 days ago

      I support your answer with my basic knowlede of car aerodynamics. Since this duct is so small, i highly doubt it has a significant or even measurable effect. Brake cooling would make sense though especially in a sporty electric vehicles that often suffer from brake overheating.

      • ShepherdPie@midwest.socialEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        Isn’t most of the braking going to be done by the regenerative braking system rather than the pads and rotors?

    • Porto881@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      Brake cooling was my first thought. I’ve never heard of any ducting made just for releasing pressure caused by tire spin, but have cut many brake cooling ducts in my days

    • Delta_V@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      Its probably for brake cooling.

      There’s a high pressure wave that builds up in front of the wheels that wants to be released by putting a grill in front of them so less air gets pushed under the car, because if that pressure wave were directed under the car then it would reduce the amount of downforce being generated by the Bernoulli effect.

      AFAIK, grills behind the wheels will actually reduce the downforce of a vehicle by allowing more air under the vehicle, increasing the pressure, but its a trade-off that can be made to regulate brake fade when trying to slow down from very high speeds.