Towards Balanced Aerodynamic Axle Loading of a Car with Covered Wheels—Inflatable Splitter

Autor: Maciej Szudarek, Konrad Kamieniecki, Sylwester Tudruj, Janusz Piechna
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Energies, Vol 15, Iss 15, p 5543 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1996-1073
DOI: 10.3390/en15155543
Popis: Generating aerodynamic downforce for the wheels on the front axle of a car is a much more difficult task than for the rear axle. This paper, submitted to the special issue of Energies “Future of Road Vehicle Aerodynamics”, presents an unusual solution to increase the aerodynamic downforce of the front axle for cars with covered wheels, with the use of an elastic splitter. The effect of the inflatable splitter on the aerodynamic forces and moments was studied in a DrivAer passenger car and a fast sports car, Arrinera Hussarya. Providing that the ground clearance was low enough, the proposed solution was successful in increasing the front axle downforce without a significant increase in drag force. The possibility of emergency application of such a splitter in the configuration of the body rotated by up to 2 degrees with the front end raised was also analyzed. An elastic, deformed splitter remained effective for the nonzero pitch case. The results of the calculations are presented in the form of numerical data of aerodynamic forces, pressure and velocity distributions, and their comparisons. The benefits of the elastic splitter are documented, and the noted disadvantages are discussed.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
Nepřihlášeným uživatelům se plný text nezobrazuje