Influence of Rotating Wheels on Vehicle Aerodynamics

Abstract:

A full scaled vehicle was applied to a research of the local and global flow characteristics. Two different conditions including stationary and rotation were employed in computational simulation by steady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) calculation. Furthermore, a detailed analysis on flow, surface pressure coefficient, drag coefficient and lift coefficient affected by rotating wheel figures out that rotating wheel has a great influence on the flow around wheel and the vehicle. Pressure difference, drag coefficient and lift coefficient are decreased by rotation, which improves aerodynamic performance.

Key words:numerical simulation; steady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS); rotating wheel