Numerical simulation of flow field around the race car in case: Stationary wheel and rotating wheels

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the flow field structure around the race car in two cases: stationary wheel and rotating wheel. In addition, this paper also illustrates and clarifies the influence of wheel rotation on the aerodynamic characteristics around the race car.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses steady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the Realizable k-ε model to study model open-wheel race car. Two cases are considered, a rotating wheel and stationary wheel.

Findings

The results obtained from the study are presented graphically, pressure, velocity distribution, the flow field structure, lift coefficient (C_l) and drag coefficient (C_d) for two cases and the significant influence of rotating case on flow field structure around wheel and aerodynamic characteristics of race car. The decreases in C_d and C_l values in the rotating case for the race car are 16.83 and 13.25 per cent, respectively, when compared to the stationary case.

Originality/value

Understanding the flow field structures and aerodynamic characteristics around the race car in two cases by the steady RANS equations with the Realizable k-ε turbulence model.

Citation

Dang, T.P., Gu, Z. and Chen, Z. (2015), "Numerical simulation of flow field around the race car in case: Stationary wheel and rotating wheels", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 25 No. 8, pp. 1896-1911. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-04-2014-0107