Search Results

The aerodynamic drag, fuel consumption and hence CO2 emissions, of a road vehicle depend strongly on its flow structures and the pressure drag generated. The rear end flow which is an area of complex three-dimensional flow structures, contributes to the wake development and the overall aerodynamic performance of the vehicle. This paper seeks to provide improved insight into this flow region to better inform future drag reduction strategies. Using experimental and numerical techniques, two vehicle shapes have been studied; a 30% scale model of a Volvo S60 representing a 2003MY vehicle and a full scale 2010MY S60. First the surface topology of the rear end (rear window and trunk deck) of both configurations is analysed, using paint to visualise the skin friction pattern. By means of critical points, the pattern is characterized and changes are identified studying the location and type of the occurring singularities.

Governmental regulations and increased consumer awareness of the negative effects of green-house gases has led the automotive industry to massive invest in the energy efficiency of its fleet. One way towards accomplishing reduced fuel consumption is minimizing the drag of vehicles by improving its aerodynamics. Fuel consumption is measured by standardized driving cycles which do not consider aerodynamic losses during cornering. It is uncertain whether cornering has a significant impact on the drag, and the present study intends to investigate this numerically, using a generic vehicle model called the DrivAer. The model is considered in two different configurations: the notchback and the squareback. Cornering in various radiuses is modelled using a Moving Reference Frame approach which provides the correct flow conditions when simulating a stationary vehicle where the wind and ground are moving instead.

Under a global impulse for less man-made emissions, the automotive manufacturers search for innovative methods to reduce the fuel consumption and hence the CO2-emissions. Aerodynamics has great potential to aid the emission reduction since aerodynamic drag is an important parameter in the overall driving resistance force. As vehicles are considered bluff bodies, the main drag source is pressure drag, caused by the difference between front and rear pressure. Therefore increasing the base pressure is a key parameter to reduce the aerodynamic drag. From previous research on small-scale and full-scale vehicles, rear-end extensions are known to have a positive effect on the base pressure, enhancing pressure recovery and reducing the wake area. This paper investigates the effect of several parameters of these extensions on the forces, on the surface pressures of an SUV in the Volvo Cars Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel and compares them with numerical results.