Aerodynamics Simulation of Prototype Car Based on CFD Technology

Abstract

Abstract The characteristics of the drag and lift coefficients are closely related to the vehicle's fuel economy. For this reason, measuring the car's economy requires an analysis of its aerodynamic performance. The automobile industry and research analyze a vehicle's aerodynamics using various current techniques. One of the techniques uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate the flow around the automobile numerically. This article discusses the creation of aerodynamically optimized prototype automobile designs using examples of cars that have competed in local and international contests for fuel-efficient vehicles, such as the Shell Eco-Marathon. The designs are CFD-simulated at speeds ranging from 15 km/h to 60 km/h in 5 km/h increments. The findings are verified using the car body. Results for drag coefficients and lift, pressure, and velocity contours are graphically shown. This demonstrates how aerodynamically effective the prototype car's profile is designed.