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SOPHISTICATED BRAKE DUCTS
Unlike the Red Bull RB12, McLaren MP4-31, or Ferrari SF16-H, the Williams FW38 does not feature the blown wheel hub concept, nor does the title-winning Mercedes W07 incidentally. However, the Williams brake ducts remain a complex network of pipes.
Efficient brake cooling, i.e. that does not create too much drag, requires small brake ducts along with ventilated disks that can cool down using a limited volume of air, but also an optimised system of internal ducts.
Brake cooling mostly works through convection. Fresh air (see blue outlines) is guided via the ducts towards several carefully selected components that need cooling: the carbon disk, the pads, the calliper, and even some electronic sensors.
The brake duct is made of two parts that have been delimited by a yellow dotted line on the top two images. The smaller part covers the mounting points for the suspension and the steering rack, while the bigger one, which features a fin on its outer face, captures the cooling air. The middle image is a rare document showing the inner face of the brake duct along with its complex network of pipes.
In order to design this sophisticated system, teams use computational fluid dynamics (CFD), along with extensive dyno testing to recreate the constraints and conditions encountered during a grand prix.
The layout must not only meet cooling and aerodynamic demands but also factor in thermal stresses from tyre usage. Besides feeding cooling air, the ducts also direct the hot air produced under braking towards specific areas, such as the rims, in order to heat the inside of the tyre.
