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Within the advances in Computer Fluid Dynamics algorithms and High Performance Computing, large clusters become available at low costs allowing virtual simulations that were not possible some years ago at reasonable costs and time. This work uses intensively this condition and applies these advances on brake system optimization. The methodology developed in the present work verifies the best angular position for caliper inside the wheel to reduce the rotor temperature during braking process such as downhill procedure. Thus, this method is applied to a mini-VAN vehicle, where the best position is found, based on two design parameters: rotor temperature and convection heat transfer coefficient. This study shows that the most suitable position for initial selection is the first one.

Environment concerns lead the automakers to invest resources and put research in engine downsize to reduce carbon emission. Turbo charge is a possibility due to its fuel consumption and emission reduction without compromise the performance. Nowadays, it is becoming common observe high performance small cars due to high torque and power available. In consequence, brake system need to dissipate more kinetic energy without adding mass or costs. Modern passenger cars require a high-speed brake system. To achieve proper brake system cooling, the rotor must be ventilated and designed to optimize the energy dissipated, which is generated by friction between pad and disk. Some approaches consider the rotor as a centrifugal air pump and the design rule is to improve the airflow inside the vanes. The approach considering a brake rotor similar to centrifugal air pump rotor may be considered as limited approach, once it simplifies the heat transfer phenomena inside chamber.

This study refers to the Computational Fluid Dynamics, demonstrating a comparative between the drag coefficient and the frontal area of a current production car with the same values obtained from a conceptual proposal of removing the outside rearview mirrors of this same vehicle. Both cases were simulated in a virtual wind tunnel with moving ground and rotating wheels condition at speed of 100 kph, aiming to represent the best way a car moving on a highway. The main objective of this paper is improving the efficiency of automotive vehicles by replacing the current outside rearview mirror for cameras placed in smaller structures. The first simulation showed that by removing the outside rearview mirrors both the frontal area of the car and the drag coefficient, which has direct influence on fuel economy calculation, are smaller compared to current solution.

Aerodynamics plays a key role in nowadays vehicle development, aiming efficiency on fuel consumption, which leads to a green technology. Several initiatives around the world are regulating emissions and efficiency of vehicles such as EURO for European Marketing and the INOVAR Auto Project to be implemented in Brazil on 2017. In order to meet requirements in terms of performance, especially on aerodynamics, automakers are focusing on aero-efficient exterior designs and also adding deflectors, covers, active spoilers and several other features to meet the drag coefficient. Usually, the aerodynamics properties of a vehicle are measured in both CFD simulations and wind tunnels, which provide controlled conditions for the test that could be easily reproduced. During the real operations conditions, external factors can affect the flow over the vehicle such as cross wind in open highways.

CFD is becoming very popular among the industries and the use of multiphase simulations is also increasing with more powerful CPUs and reliable CFD codes. The scope of this work is to present a mud deposition simulation methodology using CFD multiphase analysis at the CRFM of an automobile, in order to prevent low performance on the condenser or on the radiator and compromise the heat exchange performance. Mud reaches the front end of the car and results show the mud path and mud deposition on the CRFM and the blocked area.

Considering the increment of computational power and the accuracy on the results, virtual engineering tools are becoming more popular among the industries, especially inside the automotive, seeking development time and cost reduction. Taking advantage of the modern resources, it was developed a simulation methodology in order to verify the water flow behavior from the roof to the side ditch of the vehicle's roof. Within this methodology it is possible to virtually test a vehicle without a real prototype, analyze the roof performance and suggest design changes without any prototype part being made, which implies in cost and development time reduction.