Spoiler (automotive)
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For the aircraft component, see Spoiler (aeronautics).
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The Plymouth Superbird is famous for its giant rear spoiler.
1987 Audi Sport QuattroS1 Pikes Peak
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil'
unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a
vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce
the amount of air flowing underneath the vehicle which reducesaerodynamic lift. Spoilers
are often fitted to race and high-performance sports cars, although they have become
common on passenger vehicles as well. Some spoilers are added to cars primarily for
styling purposes and have either little aerodynamic benefit or even make the aerodynamics
worse.
Spoilers for cars are often incorrectly confused with, or the term used interchangeably with,
wings. Automotive wings are devices whose intended design is to generate downforce as
air passes around them, not simply disrupt existing airflow patterns.
Contents
[hide]
1 Operation
2 Passenger
vehicles
o 2.1 Mat
erial types
3 Other vehicles
4 Whale tail
o 4.1 His
tory
o 4.2 Oth
er vehicles
5 Gallery
6 Related terms
7 References
[edit]Operation
Spoilers function by disrupting airflow passing over and around a moving vehicle. This
diffusion is accomplished by increasing amounts of turbulence flowing over the shape,
"spoiling" the laminar flow and providing a cushion for the laminar boundary layer.[citation
needed]
Often spoilers are added solely for appearance with no thought towards practical
purpose.
[edit]Passenger vehicles
This Toyota MR2 sports car has a factory-installed rear spoiler.
A rear Spoiler is Standard Equipment on all Celica Models.
The main design goal of a spoiler in passenger vehicles is to reduce drag and increase fuel
efficiency[1]. While many often imitate wings and airfoils, these serve
mostly decorative [Link] vehicles can be equipped with front and rear
spoilers. Front spoilers, found beneath the bumper, are mainly used to direct air flow away
from the tires to the underbody where the drag coefficient is less. Rear spoilers, which
modify the transition in shape between the roof and the rear and the trunk and the rear, act
to minimize the turbulence at the rear of the vehicle.
Sports cars are most commonly seen with front and rear spoilers. Even though these
vehicles typically have a more rigid chassis and a stiffer suspension to aid in high speed
maneuverability, a spoiler can still be beneficial. This is because many vehicles have a fairly
steep downward angle going from the rear edge of the roof down to the trunk or tail of the
car. At high speeds, air flowing across the roof tumbles over this edge, causing air flow
separation. The flow of air becomes turbulent and a low-pressure zone is created,
increasing drag and instability (see Bernoulli effect). Adding a rear spoiler makes the air
"see" a longer, gentler slope from the roof to the spoiler, which helps to delay flow
separation. This decreases drag, increases fuel economy, and helps keep the rear window
clean.
Due to their association with racing, spoilers are often viewed as "sporty" by consumers.
[edit]Material types
Spoilers are usually made of:
ABS plastic – Most original equipment manufacturers create spoilers produced by
casting ABS plastic with various admixtures, which bring in plasticity to this inexpensive
but fragile material. Frailness is a main disadvantage of plastic, which increases with
product age and is caused by the evaporation of volatile phenols.
Fiberglass – Used in car parts production due to the low cost of the manufacturing
process. Fiberglass spoilers consist of fiberglass filler fastened with synthetic tar.
Fiberglass is sufficiently durable and workable, but has become unprofitable for large
scale production.
Silicon – More recently, many auto accessory manufacturers are using silicon-
organic polymers. The main benefit of this material is its phenomenal plasticity. Silicon
possesses extra high thermal characteristics and provides a longer product lifetime.
Carbon – fiberglass based on carbon fiber is the youngest material on the
automotive aftermarket. Carbon is light weight, durable, but also a very expensive
material. Unlike ordinary fiberglass, solidification of the connecting tar takes place in a
pressure chamber using high temperatures. Due to the very large amount of waste
during the manufacturing process, large scale producers cannot widely use carbon fiber
in automobile parts production currently.
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