Experimental Investigation on the Aerodynamics of Isolated Rotating Wheels and Evaluation of Wheel Rotation Models Using Unsteady CFD

Abstract

Wheel aerodynamics of passenger cars has recently been under close investigation due to its influence on the aerodynamic forces on the vehicle. In modern wind-tunnels the wheel rotation can be resembled close to reality, while, in their CFD development process, car manufactures rely on simplified models for considering rotating wheels. In this paper, model-scale generic and production wheels are investigated experimentally, in respect of the influence of geometry, camber and a brake disc. The data is used to assess the accuracy of CFD simulations using open-source software and their applicability in a manufacturer’s CFD process.