Comparison between V12 and W12 F1 engines

In this paper, a comparison has been carried outbetween two Formula 1 engine architectures: a traditionalV12 and a 12 cylinder with three banks and one crankshaft,which will be referred to from here on as W12. Thiscomparison is made in terms of geometrical features, aswell as in terms of safety coefficients, torsional stiffness,state of balance and friction losses.The W12’s crankshaft is 158 mm shorter and stiffer thanthe V12’s. Furthermore, this crankshaft is simpler andlighter. The W12 engine front section is wider. The crankshaftof the W12 has a minimum safety factor that is 30%lower than the V12’s under the same operating conditions(18000 rpm, bmep=13 bar). While the V12 is perfectlyself-balanced, the secondary forces are out of balance inthe W12’s crankshaft. This unbalance is, however, nomore critical than the one occurring in a V10 or V8. Frictionlosses in the W12 should be slightly lower in comparisonto the V12.