Drag Analysis of Cars

MEE 364 Automotive Aerodynamics

Lecture – 3
 Aerodynamic drag = pressure drag
+ viscous drag.
 Pressure drag is still the dominant
contributor to overall drag.
 Predictive modeling of drag has
improved with the advent of CFD.
 However, drag is still determined
empirically by “on road” or wind
tunnel tests.
 Due to the large scale data available
for various models, drag prediction
for new designs is mostly empirical.
 Drag prediction via modeling
assumes cars as bluff bodies, or
solids of revolution.
 Considerable deviations from
experiments occur when cars are
treated with such simplicity.
 Errors in drag prediction may be as
high as 100%.
 Progress in drag modeling was
achieved due to Prandtl’s
introduction of a third flow regime,
i.e., “dead water” regions after flow
separation.
Flow Field Around a Car
 Flow field around a car is
characterized by several flow
separation regions.
 The flow separates at the front hood,
fenders, and the front head lamps,
windshield wipers etc. However, the
separated flow re-attaches itself at
the rear of the car.
 These dead water regions are
essentially quasi 2-D, and don’t
possess much re-circulation or
energy.
 Flow separation also occurs at the
rear of the vehicle due to a slanting
back.
 These vortices are also of the first
type, “quasi 2-D”, and fling dirt back
onto the vehicle.
 They exhibit themselves as “contra-
rotating” vortices in the tail wake,
and don’t possess much energy.
 The shape and size of these vortices
depends on the specific rear end
design.
 The second type of flow separation
results in a 3-D vortex.
 These vortices have considerable re-
circulation, and energy.
 They originate from the sides of the
vehicle, at the “A” and “C” pillar
regions, and propagate downstream.
 The free vortices stress the sides of
vehicle and influence water flow in
these pillar areas.
 They also cause wind noise.
 At roof level, the A pillar vortices are
bent rearward.
 They continue far behind a car, and
disturb the entire flow field.
 They can be detected by noticing the
water flow patterns, and dirt
deposition patterns on the car.
 The effect of the contra-rotating
vortices at the rear of the car, is also
significant in drag estimation, and
dust control.
 The strength of the contra-rotating
vortices is most prominent for the fast
back.
 The vortices are strong in circulation, and
are generally rotating inwards, sloshing
dirt onto the lower part of the car.
 When the slant angle φ = 5°, the flow
behind the fast back is same as for a
square-back.
 The strength of the trailing vortices
increases with φ.
 However, as φ > 30°, the vortices
suddenly burst.