Aerodynamic Design of a Solar Road Vehicle

Abstract

Solar road vehicles have very specific design requirements. This makes their aerodynamic characteristics quite different from classic sedan vehicles. In the present study, the computational model of a typical solar road vehicle was developed to investigate its aerodynamic forces and flow characteristics. Computations were performed assuming the steady viscous flow and using the Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes equations along with the k-ω turbulence model. The obtained results indicate some important findings that are commonly not present for classic sedan vehicles. In particular, a contribution of the viscous drag force to the overall drag force is considerably larger (41 %) than it is the case for the standard passenger road vehicles, where the form drag force dominates over the viscous drag force. Surface pressure distribution patterns indicate a favorable aerodynamic design of this vehicle. In particular, larger pressure coefficients on the top of the vehicle body as compared to the bottom surface contribute to increasing a downforce and thus the vehicle traction. The airfoil-shaped crosssection of the designed cockpit canopy has favorable properties with respect to reduction of the aerodynamic drag force.