Separated Flows Around the Rear Window of a Simplified Car Geometry

Abstract

A 3D numerical simulation based on the lattice Boltzmann method is carried out on a simplified car geometry (initially proposed by Ahmed, Ramm, and Falting, 1984, SAE Technical Paper series No. 840300) to analyze and establish a method for controlling the near-wake flow topology of a generic blunt body model. The results indicate the existence of a complex flow topology consisting of transverse and longitudinal vortices emanating from flow separations that occur on the top and the lateral edges of the slanted rear window, respectively. The topology of each structure is detailed and the numerical results are compared with the experimental results in the literature. The results presented in this paper can then be used to develop and parametrize active control solutions conducive to improving the aerodynamic performances of automobile vehicles.