Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: syhprum on 05/04/2014 10:39:17

Title: How can F1 cars keep their tyre pressures right?
Post by: syhprum on 05/04/2014 10:39:17

The performance of the modern F1 car is much influenced by the ride height and tyre inflation pressure.
Next season tyre warming blankets are to be banned, tyres are normally inflated by dried air or Nitrogen the pressure of which increases as the temperature rises, is there any thing that can be added to reduce this tendency ?.

Title: Re: Tyre inflation pressures
Post by: Bored chemist on 05/04/2014 12:59:41

"is there any thing that can be added to reduce this tendency ?."
How about a relief valve?

Title: Re: Tyre inflation pressures
Post by: syhprum on 05/04/2014 14:55:02

That sounds a good simple idea (like the Hindenburg venting Hydrogen to reduce altitude) but a problem arises when the race is slowed by a safety car and the tyres cool how do you bring the pressure back up.
I do not know if the regulations permit a computer controlled auto inflation system probably not .   

Title: Re: Tyre inflation pressures
Post by: CliffordK on 05/04/2014 17:56:57

All gasses are more or less dependent on the ideal gas law, PV=nRT, and expand with temperature (in Kelvin, of course).  If you have liquid present that would vaporize, it would be worse. 

Two things come to mind.

If you had a diaphragm or pressure bladder as part of the wheel, it could be designed to maintain more of a fixed pressure over a wider temperature range.  If it incorporates a spring, it might even be adjustable.

One might also be able to incorporate a gas "sponge", such as zeolite that would absorb Nitrogen, or other gas with increased pressure and release it with reduced pressure.  However, it may also be temperature dependent.