Study of the aerodynamic behaviour of ground vehicles. Application of passive flow control strategies
This thesis focuses on investigating aerodynamic behaviors in ground vehicles and implementing passive drag-reduction techniques. The study is conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations on the widely recognized DrivAer model. The study evaluates the effectiveness of several passi...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/422302 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/422302 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Computational fluid dynamics Automobiles--Aerodynamics Electric automobiles--Aerodynamics CFD DrivAer Automotive Aerodynamics drag RANS simulation Dinàmica de fluids computacional Automòbils--Aerodinàmica Automòbils elèctrics--Aerodinàmica Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria mecànica::Mecànica de fluids |
| Sumario: | This thesis focuses on investigating aerodynamic behaviors in ground vehicles and implementing passive drag-reduction techniques. The study is conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations on the widely recognized DrivAer model. The study evaluates the effectiveness of several passive flow control strategies, such as a closed rim design for the wheels, virtual mirrors and a teardrop rear-end design, on reducing the drag coefficient (CD) and improving the overall vehicle efficiency. The main objective of the study is to determine how these passive strategies can minimize aerodynamic drag, which is crucial in enhancing fuel efficiency and range in both conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles. This is achieved by a comprehensive CFD simulation process using the RANS method and k − ω SST turbulence model. Each drag-reduction device is simulated under controlled conditions to compare the results against a base model, which excludes any drag-reduction modifications. The results of this research demonstrate that passive flow control strategies can play a significant role in reducing aerodynamic drag, thus contributing to energy efficiency and reduction of environmental impact. Overall, the thesis contributes valuable insights into the application of CFD simulations for vehicle design improvements and underscores the importance of aerodynamic efficiency in future automotive technologies. |
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