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CourseAutomotive & Motorsport Applications open

Basic principles of airflow in racing cars course

Online course of 300 hours in basic airflow principles for racing cars: 6 modules covering air properties and flow, the boundary layer and separation, aerodynamic forces on the car, basic aerodynamic components, and dirty air, slipstreaming and overtaking, 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

Understand the air properties relevant to racing aerodynamics.

02

Apply the continuity and Bernoulli equations to vehicle cases.

03

Interpret boundary layer formation and flow separation.

04

Calculate drag and downforce from coefficients.

05

Identify the function of each aerodynamic component.

06

Analyse the effect of dirty air and slipstreaming in a race.

07

Propose flow improvements justified with data.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Junior aerodynamicists.
  • CFD technicians.
  • Track engineers.
  • Wind tunnel technicians.
  • Bodywork designers.
  • Performance analysts.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter motor racing.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • SAE J1594 (vehicle aerodynamics terminology)
  • SAE J2084 (aerodynamic drag testing in wind tunnels)
  • FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations (technical rules for Formula 1 cars)
  • Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code (technical regulations for competition vehicles)
  • ISO 8855 (vehicle dynamics vocabulary)
  • ASME V&V 20 (verification and validation in CFD)
  • OpenFOAM
  • SimScale
  • ParaView
  • XFLR5
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Air density, pressure and temperature
  2. 1.2Viscosity and Reynolds number
  3. 1.3Laminar versus turbulent flow
  4. 1.4Continuity equation in ducts
  5. 1.5Bernoulli's theorem and dynamic pressure
  6. 1.6Pressure coefficient Cp
  7. 1.7Streamlines and visualisation
  8. 1.8Compressibility and Mach number on track
  9. 1.9Effect of circuit altitude
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: calculating dynamic pressure at various speeds
  1. 2.1Formation of the boundary layer
  2. 2.2Thickness and velocity profile
  3. 2.3Transition from laminar to turbulent flow
  4. 2.4Adverse pressure gradient
  5. 2.5Separation and wake
  6. 2.6Vortex generators
  7. 2.7Surface roughness and finish
  8. 2.8Coanda effect on bodywork
  9. 2.9Flow control at the rear
  10. 2.10Laboratory: visualisation with wool tufts
  1. 3.1Aerodynamic drag and frontal area
  2. 3.2Cx and Cz coefficients
  3. 3.3Downforce and grip
  4. 3.4Aerodynamic balance and centre of pressure
  5. 3.5Lift-induced drag
  6. 3.6Top speed and required power
  7. 3.7L/D efficiency of the package
  8. 3.8Sensitivity to ride height and pitch
  9. 3.9Aerodynamic maps by suspension ride heights
  10. 3.10Case study: top speed estimation
  1. 4.1Nose and front wing
  2. 4.2Aerofoil sections and angle of attack
  3. 4.3Sidepods and cooling inlets
  4. 4.4Flat floor and diffuser
  5. 4.5Rear wing and flaps
  6. 4.6Open wheels and their wake
  7. 4.7Splitters and side skirts on touring cars
  8. 4.8Spoilers and Gurney flaps
  9. 4.9Interaction between components
  10. 4.10Workshop: reading an aerodynamic drawing
  1. 5.1Wake of the car ahead
  2. 5.2Loss of downforce in dirty air
  3. 5.3Exploiting the slipstream on the straight
  4. 5.4DRS and its effect on drag
  5. 5.5Crosswind and yaw
  6. 5.6Gusts and stability
  7. 5.7Cooling in traffic
  8. 5.8Regulations for close following
  9. 5.9Effect of air on braking
  10. 5.10Case study: slipstream analysis on a straight
  1. 6.1Selection of the vehicle to be studied
  2. 6.2Flow assumptions and simplifications
  3. 6.3Estimation of coefficients
  4. 6.4Pressure map with simple CFD
  5. 6.5Proposed improvements
  6. 6.6Validation with track data
  7. 6.7Comparison with a reference vehicle
  8. 6.8Speed sensitivity analysis
  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 OpenFOAM, SimScale, ParaView and XFLR5, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures: flow visualisation with tufts and paint, dynamic pressure calculation and slipstream analysis with track data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.

Standards covered: SAE J1594; SAE J2084; FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations; Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code; ISO 8855; ASME V&V 20.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of SAE J1594, SAE J2084 and the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:OpenFOAM, SimScale, ParaView and XFLR5, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:an airflow study of a racing vehicle with coefficient estimates, a CFD pressure map and validated improvements, 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.

Vehicle and flow assumptions
Select the vehicle and define the flow assumptions and simplifications.
Coefficient estimation
Estimate the drag and downforce coefficients of the vehicle.
CFD pressure map
Produce a pressure map with a simple CFD model.
Improvements and validation
Propose improvements and validate them against track data.
Final project
Present the comparison, sensitivity analysis and report for final review with your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Junior aerodynamicistCFD technicianTrack engineerWind tunnel technicianBodywork designerPerformance analyst
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 OpenFOAM, SimScale, ParaView and XFLR5, 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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