Numerical simulation of flow field around the race car in case: Stationary wheel and rotating wheels
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 2 November 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the flow field structure around the race car in two cases: stationary wheel and rotating wheel. In addition, this paper also illustrates and clarifies the influence of wheel rotation on the aerodynamic characteristics around the race car.
Design/methodology/approach
The author uses steady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the Realizable k-ε model to study model open-wheel race car. Two cases are considered, a rotating wheel and stationary wheel.
Findings
The results obtained from the study are presented graphically, pressure, velocity distribution, the flow field structure, lift coefficient (Cl) and drag coefficient (Cd) for two cases and the significant influence of rotating case on flow field structure around wheel and aerodynamic characteristics of race car. The decreases in Cd and Cl values in the rotating case for the race car are 16.83 and 13.25 per cent, respectively, when compared to the stationary case.
Originality/value
Understanding the flow field structures and aerodynamic characteristics around the race car in two cases by the steady RANS equations with the Realizable k-ε turbulence model.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was accomplished by the supports of the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, Hunan University, China.
Citation
Dang, T.P., Gu, Z. and Chen, Z. (2015), "Numerical simulation of flow field around the race car in case: Stationary wheel and rotating wheels", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 25 No. 8, pp. 1896-1911. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-04-2014-0107
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited