Soumik Piratla

Evaluating the Aerodynamics of Passenger Vehicle Configurations

Started Feb. 6, 2023

Abstract or project description

The aerodynamics of moving bodies, especially passenger vehicles, have an enormous impact on the design and performance of a vehicle. The design of the vehicle influences the drag and lift forces acting on it. To put it simply, when the drag force on the vehicle increases, or when the drag coefficient increases, the energy required to move the body in space increases. For example, if a car is considered, the increase in drag would cause a decrease in speed and an increase in the load on the engine and powertrain. Aerodynamic efficiency is especially critical to reducing fuel consumption and, thus, the vehicle’s carbon footprint. Aerodynamic efficiency is typically defined using the ratio of a body’s lift to drag, or the L/D ratio; thus, an efficient design maximises feasible lift while minimising drag by balancing the drag coefficient; this implies decreasing the drag coefficient and keeping the lift coefficient in a window. Because increased lift often comes from conditions like elevated speeds that also increase drag, trades must be considered for added features. Another consideration is minimising the wake of a vehicle, as it is heavily responsible for stability or drivability. It is hence critical to determine which aerodynamic modification would maximise the satisfaction of these criteria for each vehicle configuration. In this study, we will explore different modifications, including the addition of spoilers, diffusers, boat tails, and front bumper profiles. Calculations and CFD analysis generally reserved for high-performance vehicles will be applied to passenger vehicles like SUVs and sedans in this study. The results offer an improved understanding of how different vehicles modify their aerodynamic components.