Reduction of aerodynamic forces on a minivan by a pair of vortex generators of a pocket type

Abstract

Reduction of the aerodynamic forces on a minivan has been achieved using a pair of pockets at the left and the right sides, respectively, of the rear roof end of the vehicle. The two pockets generate cross-streamwise vortices that cause the turbulent kinetic energy to increase in the boundary layer in the downstream of the two pockets. This increased turbulent kinetic energy induces the flow separation to be delayed further downstream along the vehicle back. Unlike the common Vortex Generators (VGs) of extrusive type, these VGs of a pocket type do not cause any additional drag by themselves. This paper investigates numerically the effects of pockets on the reduction of the aerodynamic forces and the flow field around a minivan.