Formula-SAE Racing Car: Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the External Aerodynamics.

摘要

The present work aims to improve the external fluid-dynamics of the first prototype of the Formula-SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) race car of the University of Perugia. In the first phase, the study concentrates its attention on the nose of the prototype; the tatter has been tested in the wind tunnel of the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Perugia and the acquired experimental data have been used to calibrate the models used in the CFD/3D analysis. At the same time, with the goal of decreasing the vehicle's resistance and to increase its down-force, a comparative numerical analysis was performed. The results obtained by the simulation of the complete original prototype (model A), are compared with those obtained from the model B, obtained redesigning some particulars of the model A or adding some appropriate aerodynamic elements such as: front wing, headrest, rear engine hood and aerodynamic extractor. The presented results show a remarkable improvement of the parameters above mentioned. For clarity, the model A is the one that participated at the international competition of Varano (Parma-Italy), 2013.