Opinions on Canards

[Nationalmilkman]

So what are the opinions on canards for our cars? I know splitters and wings help, but are canards worth it the hassle and how well/long would they hold up?

Just curious cuz PitRoadM is running them. So they have to help some.

[stealthify]

I remember Macky had some on his car a long time ago, but I don't recall reading if he noticed any difference with them on.

I suspect for normal daily use, they'd really just be on there for looks.

[IPD]

canards are for jets

[Nationalmilkman]

I do have a "Stealth"! Haha

[IPD]

I do have a "Stealth"! Haha

ok, sure. let's talk about "stealth". stealth design has two basic approaches: misdirection of radar waves & avoidance of them. the former requires a multi-faceted design which forces incoming EM radiation to bounce in a variety of different directions--but not back at the source. the F-117 utilized this approach. the closest "contemporary car design" to this approach is the lamborghini reventon.

the other method of stealth is to avoid radar by "slipping through" it. this requires sleekness and a dearth of surfaces which could reflect radar. the F-22 was largely created around this concept. contemporary automotive interpretations of this could resonably be the 3rd generation mercury sable and the dodge stealth.

...so bear in mind that canards are additional aerofoils that will reflect additional EM energy. if your primary design characteristic is "slipstreaming" EM energy, then adding additional surfaces that reflect said energy is counter to the design.

[stealthee]

Just curious cuz PitRoadM is running them. So they have to help some.

Just because PRM runs them does NOT mean they help.

[i3igpete]

as of right now, there haven't been any published CFD data on bumper canards. until one of the touring car or super GT teams write a paper on it, we have no way of knowing how much they actually help or not.

[J. Fast]

I would suspect they are only needed to fine tune the balance of the weight distribution. Say you have a front splitter that's working great, so great it's causing a lever or hinge effect on the front end resulting in positive lift on the rear. You add a wing to the rear such as at GT-300 or something and you balance it out but need a few 100lbs more up front. You pick it up with the canards and play with the angles of attack on everything dialed in to the average speed you plan on traveling to maximize the efficiency of the whole thing. It's another one of those CFD or lap time pieces of the puzzle. Withought knowing what the optimm mounting points an angles are they're probably going to do more harm them good and create more drag.