Abstract
This research paper focuses on a novel coupling of the aerodynamic and structural behaviour of a double-element composite front wing of a Formula One (F1) vehicle, which was simulated and studied for the first time here. To achieve this goal, a modified two-way coupling method was employed in the context of high performance computing (HPC) to simulate a steady-state fluid-structure interaction (FSI) configuration using the ANSYS software package. The front wing plays a key role in generating aerodynamic forces and controlling the fresh airflow to maximise the aerodynamic performance of an F1 car. Therefore, the composite front wing becomes deflected under aerodynamic loading conditions due to its elastic behaviour which can lead to changes in the flow field and the aerodynamic performance of the wing. To reduce the uncertainty of the simulations, a grid sensitivity study and the assessment of different engineering turbulence models were carried out. The practical contribution of our investigations is the quantification of the coupled effect of the aerodynamic and structural performance of the wing and an understanding of the influence of ride heights on the ground effect. It was found that the obtained numerical surface pressure distributions, the aerodynamic forces, and the wake profiles show an accurate agreement with experimental data taken from the literature.
Highlights
The front wing of a Formula One (F1) racing vehicle, when operated in close proximity to the ground, generates approximately 30% of total downforce [1], which is utilised in conjunction with mechanical grip to boost acceleration, braking, and turning speed
The fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology framework used in this study is based on the existing analysis modules, fluent and mechanical, provided by ANSYS software, and with the support of ANSYS we developed a separate code file to connect the FSI modelling with a Linux-based cluster high performance computing (HPC) system used at Cranfield University, which enables the coupled process between computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA) techniques to be resolved more efficiently with the support of powerful computation
A modified two-way coupling method was employed for the purpose of investigation into the fluid flow field around the composite-material multielement wing to assess the aerodynamic performance of the wing induced by the aeroelastic effect
Summary
The front wing of a Formula One (F1) racing vehicle, when operated in close proximity to the ground, generates approximately 30% of total downforce [1], which is utilised in conjunction with mechanical grip to boost acceleration, braking, and turning speed. The wing, being the first appurtenance subjected to fresh airflow, has a significant influence on management of downstream airflow, interacting with other aerodynamic devices such as bargeboards, the underfloor, and the rear wing. It can maintain a low level of turbulence and high energy within the fluid. As a result of a great amount of aerodynamic loading exerted on the front wing, the focus lies in the structural design. The wing should be rigid enough to bear the aerodynamic forces through high-speed corners as well as sufficiently durable. In order to enhance competitiveness in the motorsport world, the structural design should aim to reduce the weight
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