A Study on Aerodynamic Drag Reduction for Two-Box Car

- Experimental Validation of Numerical Simulation and Investigation of Relationship between Aerodynamic Drag and Vortex Behind Car -

Abstract

This paper describes relationships between aerodynamic drag on 1/4-scale car model and the vortices behind the car model. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and wind tunnel test were conducted using the car model. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results were validated with wind tunnel test results and showed good correlations with static pressure on car model and streamwise velocity in the wake. The CFD results showed that there is a ring-shaped vortex behind the car. The results also showed that the circulation of the vortex ring and the distance between the vortex ring and car model have a strong correlation with the aerodynamic drag on the car model.