COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS--A TOOL FOR ENERGY SAVING IN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Computational methods in aerodynamics are well established design tools in aerospace industry and research institutes. In the past mainly potential methods for nonlifting and lifting flows over complex three-dimensional shapes have been used extensively to compute inviscid flow without separation. To analyse subsonic flow over wings or bodies including viscosity effects, panel methods have been used together with three-dimensional boundary layer methods and similar car studies have been successfully demonstrated. The general application of these methods, however, is limited by the complex wake and vortex structures behind car shapes of practical interest. More recently, based on the extreme importance of transonic flow in aircraft aerodynamics, new classes of computational methods solving the whole flow field have got wide attention. Especially the finite volume solvers which treat either the time-dependent Euler equations or the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are well suited to analyse external aerodynamics of cars. Also a coupling between Euler methods and three-dimensional boundary layer codes appears to be very promising. Improved engine designs can be obtained by better understanding of the flow field in the combustion chamber. Since experimental insight is costly and difficult, if possible at all, computational methods offer an alternative access to the problem for the future. For such a numerical simulation of time-dependent in-cylinder flows finite volume methods solving the Navier-Stokes solutions appear to be very efficient because they are capable of dealing easily with complex shapes and all important flow details such as heat transfer, fuel injection, and combustion, and any turbulence can be included.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • ISATA 83. Volume 2. International Symposium on Automotive Technology and Automation with particular reference to Electronics and Energy Saving in the Automotive Industries: Product and Process, Cologne, 19-23 September 1983.
• Corporate Authors:

  Automotive Automotion Limited

  42 Lloyd Park Avenue
  Croydon CRO 5SB, Surrey,   England 

  Ford Werke AG

  ,   Germany 
• Authors:
  • Schmidt, W
  • WAGNER, B
• Conference:
  • ISATA 83. Volume 2. International Symposium on Automotive Technology and Automation with particular reference to Electronics and Energy Saving in the Automotive Industries: Product and Process, Cologne, 19-23 September 1983.
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 917-936

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Calculation; Combustion chambers; Engines; Equations; Fluid dynamics; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Computation
• Old TRIS Terms: Engine design
• Subject Areas: Design; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00393222
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-037 287
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM