The aerodynamics of a car are determined by a combination of wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Advantages of both methods are combined effectively to determine the potential for aerodynamic improvement and to guarantee fast optimisation. While wind tunnel tests are costly and time-consuming they are capable of benchmarking variants of a styling theme within a few days when the hardware has been built. CFD, on the other hand, provides superior flow analysis and is a means for prospective design improvements. Unfortunately, the CFD process is characterised by highly time-consuming repetitive manual actions, resulting in the capability to benchmark only a few CFD variants per styling period. The goal of the new Opel Virtual Aero Lab (OVAL) process development is a significant reduction of turnaround time and user-workload in the external aerodynamic simulation process although existing tools have to be kept to ensure confidence in the results. Besides a clearly increased efficiency, the new process has a much higher impact on the development process than before. A new standardised data management process with automated report generation and fixed directory structure helps the user to concentrate on important tasks. A simplified administration of many variant simulations is the consequence by which the user has the ability to compare measures between design themes easily. User errors or oversights are minimised during the process with the aid of standardised forms and default values wherever possible. The offset between traditional wind tunnel tests and CFD simulation is reduced in a positive way. More and more measures are reviewed in simulation before building up a hardware model with direct cost reduction being the consequence of this closer development between both aerodynamic modelling areas. The introduction of further tools like Design of Experiment (DOE) will help to evaluate models in a more effective way in the future. With a smaller set of variants it will be possible to generate the same confidence level in results as is possible today.
Customising fluent to speed-up aerodynamic vehicle development
Automotive Engineer ; 30 , 8 ; 29-33
2005
5 Seiten, 3 Bilder
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
Online Contents | 1994
Tema Archiv | 2007
|Aerodynamic Simulation of Aircraft Crusing Characteristics Based on FLUENT
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2022
|Engineering diffraction: customising submicron grating structures
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1990
|ADJUSTING AND/OR CUSTOMISING A USER INTERFACE OF A VEHICLE
Europäisches Patentamt | 2023
|