Optimization of wheel brow structures of a van considering rainwater pollutants based on discrete phase model

Abstract

Four optimization models were proposed to reduce the impact of pollutants from vans on themselves and surrounding vehicles. The adsorption of pollutants on the body of the van in rainy conditions and the diffusion of pollutants into the external environment were numerically investigated using the Discrete Phase Model (DPM) for vans having different wheel brow structures. The pressure distribution on the surface of the van, the surrounding flow field, and the raindrop distributions of various external positions on and around the van were analyzed and compared. The results indicated that the van with externally covered wheel brow model was most effective in inhibiting the diffusion of rainwater pollutants from the van under rainy conditions. Compared with the original model, the reduction in the polluted area was 11.19%, the reduction in the influence of the visual field on the rear vehicle was 25.4%, and the reduction in the diffusion of pollutants on the bodies of the side vehicle was 20.7%.