Numerical Study of the Influence of Elements inside the Wheelhouse on the Passenger Vehicle Aerodynamic

Edvaldo Angelo¹, Gabriel Angelo^2,3, Pedro Henrique Di Giovanni Santos³, Delvonei Alves de Andrade³

¹Grupo de Simulação Numérica (GSN), Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil.
²Department of Mechanical Engineering, Centro Universitário da Fundação Educacional Inaciana Padre Sabóia de Medeiros (FEI), São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.
³Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN CNEN/SP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

DOI: 10.4236/ojfd.2015.52022                

Abstract

Models for the study of computational fluid dynamics in vehicles to determine aerodynamic loads usually take into account only the geometry of the body. Several constructive elements such as the wheel geometry or suspension components are disregarded in the computational models. This work presents the study of the aerodynamics of a one-fourth model passenger vehicle, which contains the wheelhouse interior elements. The goal is to identify the aerodynamic loads produced by these components and their effect on the flow dynamics. Wheel and tire set, brake components, suspension and drive shaft are contemplated. Computer simulations were performed to the vehicle speed varying from 0 to 120 km/h and included the rotation of the tire and wheel assembly, considering the tire geometry in dynamic conditions. The computational model is solved by the finite volume method, wherein the computational domain is divided into tetrahedral and hexahedral elements. The turbulence model used is the standard k − ε.

Keywords

Computational Fluid Dynamics, Wheelhouse, Aerodynamics, Vehicle Aerodynamics

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Beaudoin, J.-F. and Aider, J.-L. (2008) Drag and Lift Reduction of a 3D Bluff Body Using Flaps. Experiments in Fluids, 44, 491-501. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00348-007-0392-1
[2]	Corin, R.J., He, L. and Dominy, R.G. (2008) A CFD Investigation into the Transient Aerodynamic Forces on Overtaking Road Vehicle Models. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 96, 1390-1411. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2008.03.006
[3]	Cogotti, A. (2008) Evolution of Performance of an Automotive Wind Tunnel. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 96, 667-700. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2007.06.007
[4]	Guilmineau, E. (2008) Computational Study of Flow around a Simplified Car Body. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 96, 1207-1217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2007.06.041
[5]	Regert, T. and Lajos, T. (2007) Description of Flow Field in the Wheelhouses of Cars. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 28, 616-629. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2007.04.017
[6]	Launder, B.E. and Spalding, D.B. (1974) The Numerical Computation of Turbulent Flows. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 3, 269-289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0045-7825(74)90029-2
[7]	Fox, R.W., McDonald, A.T. and Pritchard, P.J. (1985) Introduction to Fluid Mechanics. Vol. 7, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
[8]	Gillespie, T.D. (1992) Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics. Vol. 400, Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale. http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/R-114
[9]	Stern, F., Wilson, R.V., Coleman, H.W. and Paterson, E.G. (2001) Comprehensive Approach to Verification and Validation of CFD Simulations—Part 1: Methodology and Procedures. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 123, 793-802. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.1412235
[10]	Wilson, R.V., Stern, F., Coleman, H.W. and Paterson, E.G. (2001) Comprehensive Approach to Verification and Validation of CFD Simulations—Part 2: Application for Rans Simulation of a Cargo/Container Ship. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 123, 803-810. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.1412236
[11]	Duell, E.G. and George, A.R. (1999) Experimental Study of a Ground Vehicle Body Unsteady near Wake. Technical report, SAE Technical Paper.
[12]	Landström, C., Löfdahl, L. and Walker, T. (2009) Detailed Flow Studies in Close Proximity of Rotating Wheels on a Passenger Car. Technical Report, SAE Technical Paper.
[13]	Cengel, Y.A. and Cimbala, J.M. (2006) Fluid Mechanics. Vol. 1, Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New York.
[14]	White, F.M. and Corfield, I. (2006) Viscous Fluid Flow. Vol. 3, McGraw-Hill, New York.