Lightning McQueen Aero Analysis Part 2: You Can Now Interact with the 3D Model Yourself

Lightning McQueen Aero Analysis Part 2: You Can Now Interact with the 3D Model Yourself

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      This week, an aero engineer from RFK Racing’s NASCAR team provided a charming analysis of Lightning McQueen’s aerodynamics. AirShaper, the software company that transformed the fictional car into a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, reached out this morning to share interactive aerodynamic models of both McQueen and his animated competitor, Jackson Storm. Now you can explore and analyze the cars in 3D yourself!

      AirShaper is a cloud-based CFD design tool. If you’re working on a project that involves flowing liquids or gases—ranging from airplanes to household plumbing—it’s beneficial to study its dynamics through simulation before finalizing designs. The core concept of AirShaper is that it offers a far more scientific approach than just applying tape to a car like Ken Miles did in Ford vs. Ferrari, while still being much more user-friendly than having your own wind tunnel.

      Someone from the software company made a fascinating demo video that explains the fundamentals of car aerodynamics and how their technology operates. You can check it out here:

      In relation to exploring on your own, here are the links on AirShaper's website where you can manipulate and analyze the airflow around McQueen and Storm from your computer or phone. Just click on the subtitle or image to get started:

      Lightning McQueen Interactive CFD Model

      Jackson Storm Interactive CFD Model

      To understand these models better, you can gain valuable insights from the professional analysis shared yesterday. If you missed it, here’s what RFK Racing’s Aerodynamics/CFD Engineer, Seth Dillard, had to say about Lightning McQueen’s aerodynamic characteristics:

      Are you now intrigued by the practical uses of CFD? AirShaper also offers a collection of sample simulations that allow you to observe gas and liquid flow over various air, land, and sea vehicles.

      Have a tip? Reach out to us at [email protected].

Lightning McQueen Aero Analysis Part 2: You Can Now Interact with the 3D Model Yourself Lightning McQueen Aero Analysis Part 2: You Can Now Interact with the 3D Model Yourself Lightning McQueen Aero Analysis Part 2: You Can Now Interact with the 3D Model Yourself Lightning McQueen Aero Analysis Part 2: You Can Now Interact with the 3D Model Yourself

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Lightning McQueen Aero Analysis Part 2: You Can Now Interact with the 3D Model Yourself

3D models of Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm have been uploaded to AirShaper's CFD analysis platform, where you can interact with them on your own computer.