A Computational Simulation Tool for the Aerodynamic Design of Vehicles

NU 2016-152

Inventors

Neelesh A. Pantankar*

Nishant Nangia

Short Description

A computational simulation technique that reduces the need for expensive physical prototypes by accurately predicting vehicle speed under dynamic airflow conditions.

Background

Current automotive and other vehicle design processes do not account for the airflow dynamics of a moving vehicle until building expensive real prototypes for testing. Instead, current simulations are typically based on a constant airflow over fixed vehicles. Therefore, there is an unmet need for an accurate prediction of vehicle speed under dynamic airflow conditions.

Abstract

The dynamic airflow around a moving vehicle contributes significantly to its overall stability and efficiency. Dynamic changes in airflow around a vehicle can be caused by environmental factors such as crosswinds, as well as underbody flow, flow around rolling tires, and flow through the engine compartment (underhood flow). Existing computational techniques for vehicle design do not take into account these dynamic airflow conditions, and are instead, typically based on constant velocity airflow over a fixed vehicle. Northwestern inventors have designed an improved simulation technique to the industry standard that enables efficient simulation of dynamic airflow past objects with complex moving geometries. In addition to this, the technique enables the simulation of 'self-propulsion' of cars; that is the technology can predict the speed of a car based on its engine load. Finally, this technique also enables the simulation of stability of automobiles while driving at high speeds. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the automotive design process by increasing efficiency in the design process and enabling simulation of scenarios that can currently only be done using expensive physical prototypes. In the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software industry, this technology would become the industry standard for flow past moving and self-propelling bodies.

Applications

• Automotive industry
• Airline industry
• Computational fluid dynamics software companies

Advantages

• Simulates and predicts vehicle speed based on engine load
• Simulates and predicts car stability at high speeds
• Simulates air or fluid flow past any body (automobiles, freights, airplane, underwater vehicles) with moving components.
• Reduces the cost of automotive design processes through virtual aerodynamic design instead of creating expensive physical prototypes during early stage development.

IP Status

Provisional and PCT patent applications have been filed.