Computational simulation of an aerodynamic profile of a vehicle SAE formula type using OpenFOAM

Abstract

Improving vehicle design is essential for esthetic reasons and ensuring better efficiency and lower fuel consumption. The present study intends to provide a computational approach to an actual physical engineering problem: the aerodynamics of automobiles. The focus of this study was to use the open-source software OpenFOAM to study the aerodynamic effects on the external fairing of a Formula SAE vehicle. The vehicle used was the Z03 model of the ZEUS team of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA). The team participates in university competitions of Formula SAE and, therefore, an aerodynamic improvement of the vehicle for the following versions can be fundamental for the team, increasing efficiency of the vehicle, resulting in a model of greater competitiveness. For analysis purposes, the drag and lift aerodynamic coefficients are analyzed. A procedure for performing aerodynamic simulations of automotive vehicles was systematized, and, in addition, satisfactory results were found for the presented simulation in comparison with results found in literature.

Keywords

• OpenFOAM
• Aerodynamics
• Computational fluid dynamics
• SAE formula