Validation of CFD Modeling and Simulation of a Simplified Automotive Model

Abstract:

In the early design phase of automotive sector, the flow field around the vehicle is important in decision making on design changes. It would consume a lot of money and time for multiple prototypes development if adopt traditional testing method which is wind tunnel test. Thus, numerical method such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation plays an important role here. It is very often simulation results been compared with wind tunnel data. However, with various mesh types, meshing methodology, discretization methods and different solver control options in CFD simulation, users may feel low confidence level with the generated simulation results. Thus, a robust modeling and simulation guideline which would help in accurate prediction should be developed due to the industry’s demand for accuracy when comparing CFD to wind tunnel results within short turnaround time. In this paper, a CFD modeling and simulation study was conducted on a simplified automotive model to validate with wind tunnel test results. The wind tunnel environment was reproduced in the simulation setup to include same boundary conditions. Meshing guidelines, turbulence model comparisons and also the best practice for solver setup with respect to accuracy will be presented. Overall, CFD modeling and simulation methods applied in this paper are able to validate the results from experiment accurately within small yaw ranges.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 735)
• Pages: 319-325
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.735.319
• Online since: February 2015
• Authors: S. Mansor, N.A.R. Nik Mohd, C.W. Chung*
• Keywords: CFD Guidelines, Davis Model, Vehicle Aerodynamics

References

[1] Takashi Takiguchi, Kenta Ogawa, Hiroyuki Tateyama and Tatsuya Oda, The Automatic Aerodynamic CFD Framework Employing Vehicle Specifications at the Concept Stage of Development, SAE Technical Paper 2013-01-0604, (2013).

DOI: 10.4271/2013-01-0604

[2] Sinisa Krajnovic, Exploration and Improvement of Road Vehicle Aerodynamics using LES, SAE Technical Paper, 2011-01-0176, (2011).

DOI: 10.4271/2011-01-0176

[3] Natalia Castro, Omar D. Lopez and Luis Munoz, Computational Prediction of a Vehicle Aerodynamics Using Detached Eddy Simulation, SAE Technical Paper, 2013-01-1254, (2013).

DOI: 10.4271/2013-01-1254

[4] Joshua Thomas Baden Fuller, The Unsteady Aerodynamics of Static and Oscillating Simple Automotive Bodies, Doctoral Thesis, Loughborough University, August (2012).

[5] Shuhaimi Mansor, Estimation of Bluff Body Transient Aerodynamic Loads Using an Oscillating Model, Doctoral Thesis, Loughborough University, April (2006).

[6] John. P. Davis, Wind Tunnel Investigation of Road Vehicle Wakes, Doctoral Thesis, London University, (1982).

[7] William H. Rae, and Alan Pope, Low Speed Wind Tunnel Testing, Second ed, John-Wiley & Sons, 1984, p.507.

[8] Nurul M. Murad and Jamal Naser , Firoz Alam and Simon Watkins , Simulation of Vehicle A-Pillar Aerodynamics using Various Turbulence Models, SAE Technical Paper 2004-01-0231, (2004).

DOI: 10.4271/2004-01-0231

[9] ANSYS Meshing User's Guide, Ansys. Inc, November (2013).

[10] Introduction to ANSYS Fluent, Chapter 6: Turbulence Modeling, Ansys. Inc, (2010).

[11] Sinisa Krajnovic, Exploration and Improvement of Road Vehicle Aerodynamics using LES, 2011-01-0176, (2011).

[12] ANSYS FLUENT User's Guide, Ansys. Inc, November (2011).

[13] Guilmineau, E. and Chometon, F., Effect of Side Wind On A Simplified Car Model: Experimental and Numerical Analysis, Journal of Fluid Engineering, February 2009, Vol. 131/ 021104-1.

DOI: 10.1115/1.3063648