Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Fluids (ISSN 2311-5521).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 9317

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28228-0001, USA
Interests: race and street car aerodynamics; aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of passenger and commercial vehicles; experimental and computational study of jets, wakes, and boundary layer flows; flow separation and control; aerodynamics of small aerial vehicles; shock–boundary layer interactions; data-driven turbulence modeling; machine learning methods in fluid flow classification
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aerodynamics is a major factor in the design and development of vehicles, whether they are passenger or commercial road vehicles, race cars, trains or air vehicles. In the early days of vehicle aerodynamics, the major goals were improved fuel economy and speed gain via drag reduction, and the improvement of occupant safety and comfort through minimization of the effects of aerodynamic instability. However, with the development of faster ground vehicles and high-speed road and train transportation infrastructures, the induction of wind noise due to aerodynamic flow instability, and aeroacoustics becoming another significant design consideration, aeroacoustics have become integral to vehicle aerodynamic design. Though drag reduction and wind noise control are the primary considerations for passenger and commercial vehicles, race cars and high-performance road and street cars require the creation of an aerodynamic downforce for better traction and cornering. Thus, aerodynamics has become the single most important aspect in the design of race and performance vehicles. In addition, it was recently observed that significant drag reduction and, hence, improved fuel economy can be achieved when road vehicles are driven in convoy, which is called platooning; the same phenomenon is used in racing for increased speed, which is called drafting.

Road and track testing, wind-tunnel experiments and computer simulations are the three tools used in vehicle aerodynamics. These approaches have their advantages and limitations. Correlating the results of these approaches for the same vehicle is challenging, and improving the correlations between these approaches is an ongoing process. As such, newer on-road and wind-tunnel measurement techniques and CFD methodologies are continuously evolving. Additionally, in laboratory environments, efforts are ongoing to include the effects of real-life road conditions, such as the impact of wind gusts or crosswinds, on vehicle performance, stability and control. In recent decades, considerable and ongoing improvements have been made in these areas.

We have planned a Special Issue of the journal Fluids dedicated to recent developments in experimental and modeling methodologies in vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. Potential broad topics for submission include the following:

  • Road, train, air and race vehicle aerodynamics;
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation of vehicle internal and external flows;
  • Wind-tunnel testing of vehicles;
  • Road and track testing of ground vehicles;
  • Fundamentals of vehicle aerodynamics;
  • Drag reduction and flow control methodologies for vehicles;
  • Wind-tunnel aeroacoustic measurements and testing techniques;
  • Modeling and simulation of ground vehicle aeroacoustics;
  • Wind noise reduction methodologies;
  • Road vehicle platooning and driving in proximity in racing;
  • Crosswind stability of ground vehicles;
  • Replication of on-road conditions in wind-tunnel experiments;
  • CFD–wind-tunnel correlation of aerodynamic and aeroacoustic measurements.

Prof. Dr. Mesbah Uddin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of passenger and commercial road vehicles
  • aerodynamics of trains and race vehicles
  • transient aerodynamic and aeroacoustic simulations of vehicle flows
  • experimental techniques applied to road and air vehicle aerodynamics
  • flow controls applied to road and air vehicles and trains
  • aerodynamic shape optimization of vehicles
  • road vehicle overtaking maneuvers and platooning
  • effect of rapid changes in upstream flow conditions on vehicle aerodynamic characteristics
  • interactions of vehicle flow with surrounding infrastructure

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2176 KiB  
Article
Control of Aerodynamic Characteristics of Thick Airfoils at Low Reynolds Numbers Using Methods of Boundary Layer Control
by Pavel Bulat, Pavel Chernyshov, Nikolay Prodan and Konstantin Volkov
Fluids 2024, 9(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids9010026 - 17 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1263
Abstract
The article explores flow behavior around thick airfoils at low Reynolds numbers and the potential application of energy methods to manipulate the flow field for increased lift and reduced drag. The study relies on a set of propulsion airfoils calculated using a combined [...] Read more.
The article explores flow behavior around thick airfoils at low Reynolds numbers and the potential application of energy methods to manipulate the flow field for increased lift and reduced drag. The study relies on a set of propulsion airfoils calculated using a combined approach of solving the inverse problem of aerodynamics and applying stochastic global optimization methods. The calculations consider the transition from laminar to turbulent flow regimes, which significantly affects lift and airfoil drag. The suitability of different turbulence models for airfoil modeling in low Reynolds numbers is discussed, and numerical simulation results determine the lift coefficient dependence on angle of attack and the optimal air flow rate taken from the airfoil surface for each angle of attack. The accuracy of different turbulence models is analyzed by comparing numerical simulation results to physical experiment data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 3rd Edition)
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12 pages, 2188 KiB  
Article
An Exploratory Wind Tunnel Study of Air Jet Wheel Spoilers
by Jeff Howell, Daniel Butcher and Martin Passmore
Fluids 2023, 8(12), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids8120322 - 18 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1323
Abstract
Wheels and wheelhouses are a significant source of aerodynamic drag on passenger cars. The use of air jets, in the form of an air curtain, to smooth the airflow around front wheel housings on cars has become common practice, as it produces a [...] Read more.
Wheels and wheelhouses are a significant source of aerodynamic drag on passenger cars. The use of air jets, in the form of an air curtain, to smooth the airflow around front wheel housings on cars has become common practice, as it produces a small drag benefit. This paper reports an initial small-scale wind tunnel study of an air jet employed as an effective wheel spoiler to reduce the drag produced by the front wheels and wheel housings of passenger cars. For this investigation, the air jet was created using an external compressed-air supply and was applied to a highly simplified car body shape. The data presented suggest that the air jet has some potential as a drag-reduction device. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 3rd Edition)
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26 pages, 30841 KiB  
Article
Reducing Aerodynamic Drag on Flatbed Trailers for Passenger Vehicles Using Novel Appendable Devices
by Michael Gerard Connolly, Malachy J. O’Rourke and Alojz Ivankovic
Fluids 2023, 8(11), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids8110289 - 27 Oct 2023
Viewed by 2274
Abstract
This article presents a study on the aerodynamic drag of a generic dual-axle flatbed trailer and explores ways to reduce the drag using appendable drag-reducing devices. The primary sources of drag originated from the van and trailer’s rear, along with the trailer’s wheels. [...] Read more.
This article presents a study on the aerodynamic drag of a generic dual-axle flatbed trailer and explores ways to reduce the drag using appendable drag-reducing devices. The primary sources of drag originated from the van and trailer’s rear, along with the trailer’s wheels. The most-effective initial device for reducing drag was a full trailer underside cover, which offered a 7% drag reduction. Additionally, ladder racks, dropsides, and rear gates were studied, and it was found that protruding ladder racks significantly increased drag. Rear gates added large amounts of drag and should be removed and stored when not needed. The study also explored novel mid-section devices that increased the van’s base pressure and reduced drag. An axle test revealed that drag for single-, dual-, and triple-axle trailers was very similar in direct flow, but different in yawed flow. A drawbar length test showed a near-linear relationship between drawbar length and drag, manifesting as a 1.7% change in drag per 250 mm change in drawbar length. Several novel modifications were made to the trailer, including fitting six unique appendable devices, which offered a total 7.3% drag reduction. A novel rear van device known as the multi-stage converging cavity was introduced, which reduced drag by nearly 18%. When all the devices were used together, a total 25% drag reduction was observed for the van–trailer combination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 3rd Edition)
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20 pages, 10344 KiB  
Article
A Detailed Numerical Study on Aerodynamic Interactions of Tandem Wheels on a Generic Vehicle
by Radoje Radovic, Fatemeh Salehi and Sammy Diasinos
Fluids 2023, 8(10), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids8100281 - 20 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1291
Abstract
Wheels contribute significantly to the aerodynamic performance of ground vehicles. Many studies have focused on investigating a single wheel either in isolation or in a wheelhouse. However, there has been less focus on the flow field around a rear wheel, especially when considering [...] Read more.
Wheels contribute significantly to the aerodynamic performance of ground vehicles. Many studies have focused on investigating a single wheel either in isolation or in a wheelhouse. However, there has been less focus on the flow field around a rear wheel, especially when considering varying proximity to the front wheel, despite its importance on aerodynamic forces. In this study, a generic reference body is modified and fitted with a rear wheel within a wheelhouse and analysed while the wheel spacing varies. Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) modelling was employed to allow for multiple variations to be considered and the model produced results in good agreement with experimental results. The results confirm that two upper rear wheelhouse outflow vortices are only present when the wheel spacing is short. It was found that the drag values were minimal for the wheel spacing at a critical distance of 1.5 wheel diameters. At this wheel spacing, the formation of the outboard jetting vortex is prevented at the rear wheel, and hence, the rear wheel drag is reduced by more than 10%. Any further reduction in the spacing does not provide any drag benefits. Also, the outflow from the front wheelhouse is projected further away from the body, drawing flow from the rear wheelhouse into the outboard jetting vortex. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 3rd Edition)
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31 pages, 11538 KiB  
Article
On the Effectiveness of Scale-Averaged RANS and Scale-Resolved IDDES Turbulence Simulation Approaches in Predicting the Pressure Field over a NASCAR Racecar
by Adit Misar, Phillip Davis and Mesbah Uddin
Fluids 2023, 8(5), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids8050157 - 16 May 2023
Viewed by 2547
Abstract
Racecar aerodynamic development requires well-correlated simulation data for rapid and incremental development cycles. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel testing are industry-wide tools to perform such development, and the best use of these tools can define a race team’s ability to [...] Read more.
Racecar aerodynamic development requires well-correlated simulation data for rapid and incremental development cycles. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel testing are industry-wide tools to perform such development, and the best use of these tools can define a race team’s ability to compete. With CFD usage being limited by the sanctioning bodies, large-scale mesh and large-time-step CFD simulations based on Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approaches are popular. In order to provide the necessary aerodynamic performance advantages sought by CFD development, increasing confidence in the validity of CFD simulations is required. A previous study on a Scale-Averaged Simulation (SAS) approach using RANS simulations of a Gen-6 NASCAR, validated against moving-ground, open-jet wind tunnel data at multiple configurations, produced a framework with good wind tunnel correlation (within 2%) in aerodynamic coefficients of lift and drag predictions, but significant error in front-to-rear downforce balance (negative lift) predictions. A subsequent author’s publication on a Scale-Resolved Simulation (SRS) approach using Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (IDDES) for the same geometry showed a good correlation in front-to-rear downforce balance, but lift and drag were overpredicted relative to wind tunnel data. The current study compares the surface pressure distribution collected from a full-scale wind tunnel test on a Gen-6 NASCAR to the SAS and SRS predictions (both utilizing SST kω turbulence models). CFD simulations were performed with a finite-volume commercial CFD code, Star-CCM+ by Siemens, utilizing a high-resolution CAD model of the same vehicle. A direct comparison of the surface pressure distributions from the wind tunnel and CFD data clearly showed regions of high and low correlations. The associated flow features were studied to further explore the strengths and areas of improvement needed in the CFD predictions. While RANS was seen to be more accurate in terms of lift and drag, it was a result of the cancellation of positive and negative errors. Whereas IDDES overpredicted lift and drag and requires an order of magnitude more computational resources, it was able to capture the trend of surface pressure seen in the wind tunnel measurements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 3rd Edition)
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