Aerodynamics analysis of a solar-powered racing car using computational fluid mechanics

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Mechanical Engineering

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source Title

3rd Regional Conference on Mechanical and Aerospace Technology

First Page

312

Last Page

318

Publication Date

3-2011

Abstract

In designing a solar-powered racing car, one of the factors that need to be considered is its aerodynamics performance. The shape of a car is a discrete characteristic of its actual performance. The lesser the drag around the exterior surfaces of the car the much faster it can possibly go, Manipulating the shape design of each of the components of the car would result to different results in the aerodynamics characteristics of the car. However, in getting the actual aerodynamic performance of different designs in an actual experiment would entail much cost and time. The study aims to establish an alternative methodology in evaluating the aerodynamic performance of a solar-car design using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Results show that the use of CFD analysis in aerodynamics performance can simplify the design phase by evaluating the drag and lift coefficient.

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Disciplines

Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

Keywords

Solar cars—Aerodynamics; Automobiles, Racing—Aerodynamics; Computational fluid dynamics

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