Analysis of aerodynamic characteristics of car diffuser for dissimilar diffuser angles on Sedan’s using CFD

Abstract

A vehicle's aerodynamic qualities have a major impact on its performance, handling, safety, and comfort. Variations in aerodynamic characteristics, such as lift and drag forces, have a noticeable impact on vehicle performance at high speeds. Researchers can lessen the frequency of accidents in which a motorist loses control of their car on our roads by lowering the pressure differential between the road and the tires. Manufacturers can save time and money on research and development by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) instead of wind tunnel testing, appreciations to advancements in computing power. The focus of this study is to learn the different aspects of a vehicle influence on its drag coefficient. Using CFD, the ideal diffuser angle was identified, which maximizes the down force produced by the device. Analysis of the drag and turbulent kinetic energy on the vehicle at varied diffuser angles (10, 11, and 12°) and vehicle speeds was performed using Ansys 16.2 Fluent. As shown by the numerical study, the drag force is reduced to 119.019 N at the 12° diffuser angle, which also provides the highest velocity and the lowest turbulent kinetic energy value. Researchers found that adjusting the diffuser's tilt significantly altered the under-body flow's wake.