Pitot tube from Euler equations point of view. Application to Formula 1 cars

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel mathematical model for Pitot tube measurements based on Euler equations, offering a general approach that is applied to analyze flow speed in Formula 1 cars.

Contribution

It introduces a new derivation of Pitot tube principles from Euler equations, avoiding Bernoulli assumptions, with specific application to high-speed racing vehicles.

Findings

Provides a general Euler-based relation between pressure and speed.

Demonstrates application to Formula 1 car aerodynamics.

Offers an alternative to traditional Bernoulli-based models.

Abstract

The paper describes a mathematical model on the physical principles of the Pitot device for acquiring flows speed. The relation between speed and static pressures is derived from simple integration of the fluid dynamics equations for an inviscid flow. In this way, the treatment is general and is not based on the Bernoulli theorem on energy conservation, as usually done in scientific and technical literature. The application to Formula 1 cars is discussed.