In the technology industry, ensuring the safety of all operators is a priority. In the motor sport sector, the Halo system was introduced a few years ago.
This is a titanium alloy structure positioned above the cockpit, in order to protect the driver's head. This system has greatly revolutionized the look of the single-seaters and, as in all traditionalist environments, the change was not well received at first; complicit in this is the fact that the vertical bar partially obstructs the driver's vision.
Several events in which the HALO system proved to be fundamental have led the FIA (International Automobile Federation) to include the structure compulsorily on every single-seater from 2018 in both Formula1 and Formula2. Among the most well-known events are the one involving Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso in 2018, and the accident that saw Romain Grosjean impact the guardrail with the front of the single-seater. In the latter episode, the presence of the Halo made it possible to avoid any contact between the metal and the driver, who fortunately only suffered minor burns.
The Halo is composed of three elements: the vertical bar, the central diadem and the side wings that connect to the rear body of the machine, thus constituting a double arch with three hinges, remarkably stable from a structural point of view.
- STRUCTURAL ASPECT:
- The material in question is Titanium Grade 5 6Al4V and has an elastic modulus of about 120 GPa at a density of 4,429 g/cm³, compared to a steel that has an elastic modulus of 210 GPa and a density of 7.5-8.0 g/cm³.The first negative aspect to consider is of course the increase in weight. Since it is a solid structure, it weighs about 15kg, which is a real problem in terms of performance. The structure itself is capable of withstanding exceptional loads of more than 5 tons. No wonder the system manages to protect the driver from an impact between two cars at high speed.
Different aerodynamic solutions to minimize losses
- AERODYNAMIC ASPECT:
- Compared to the previous single-seaters, from the aerodynamic point of view the HALO system entails a rather significant loss. In particular, the ring reduces the amount of air destined for the engine cooling duct (i.e. the cavity located above the driver's head) and interrupts the flow towards the rear wing (which generates the vehicle's downforce). To minimize losses as much as possible, each team's engineering team developed the most aerodynamic profiles possible, introducing flaps, flow diverters, and even overlapping ring profiles.
Written by Alessio Capone ed Alessandro Celli of the VGen Engineering Hub
