Quote:
Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants
Article 3.8 of the F1 technical regulations states that bodywork must be "rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car" and "remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car".
This is a ban on so-called 'moveable aerodynamic devices', which has been in place for many years.....Static load tests were later included to stop Red Bull using flexible front and rear wings to reduce drag at high speed.
[BBC Sport F1]
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The quoted rules of Article 3.8 are not applicable to flexible wings. (Sorry if I'm repeating what someone else may have stated already - I didn't go through every page)
"Rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car" and "remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car" means:
1. Wing to Column connection point should not rotate or translate in any direction.
2. Wing Column should have enough axial stiffness to not shorten or elongate under load.
3. Wing Column to Car connection point should not rotate or translate in any direction relative to the car.
If the rules do not explicitly dictate minimum flexural stiffness requirements or maximum deflection requirements then there is no violation of Article 3.8. Red Bull engineers are just smarter than the FIA rule book.
Infinite stiffness is required for ZERO deformation - it can only be theoretically assumed but never applied realistically.
<- Structural Engineer