ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF AUTOMOBILE FOREBODIES USING POTENTIAL FLOW THEORY AND A BOUNDARY LAYER SEPARATION CRITERION

An effective method of designing low drag, attached flow automobile forebodies has been developed. Based on a potential flow panel method, a series of computer programs is used to define idealized pressure gradients at several forward corner locations including the hood, fender, windshield header and A-pillar. Idealized pressure gradients for several radii at each corner location are analyzed using a turbulent boundary layer separation criterion to determine if real-world viscous flow will remain attached. Correlation with wind tunnel test results is included. A non-circular, attached flow hood corner shape is developed based on the separation criterion and an inverse (geometry defining) computer method.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vehicle Aerodynamic Developments SP-545; Passenger Car Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan, June 6-9, 1983.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096

  Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB

  Wassenaarseweg 220, P.O. Box 93200
  The Hague,   Netherlands 
• Authors:
  • Paul, J C
  • LaFond, J G
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 1-21
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Pergamon Press Limited
  • Publisher: Pergamon Press, Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Boundary layer; Computer programs; Design; Motor vehicle bodies; Vehicle design; Viscous flow; Wind tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria; Separation
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile bodies; Test results
• Subject Areas: Design; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381765
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 830999, HS-035 560
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 29 1984 12:00AM