Drag Reduction on Pasenger Cars through Wake Control and Optimization
Research Project, 2011
– 2014
To meet future demands on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions it is necessary that the aerodynamic drag of passenger cars be dramatically reduced. To reach long term goals it is required that new methodologies and concepts be tested, verified and implemented. As up to a third of the total drag of a car is created in the area behind the car (the wake), there is still a large undeveloped potential improvement available in this area. Objectives are: build a solid knowledge in the physics behind all wake mechanisms related to passenger cars, develop and deliver upfront numerical and experimental methods for wake control and optimization, create innovate concepts for drag reduction which should be possible to implement in Volvo vehicles, increase in house competence specialized on wake control. Both numerical computations and wind tunnel tests will be used for the purpose.
Participants
Lennart Löfdahl (contact)
Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems
Simone Sebben
Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems
Lennert Sterken
Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems
Collaborations
Volvo Cars
Göteborg, Sweden
Funding
Swedish Energy Agency
Project ID: 34537-1
Funding Chalmers participation during 2011–2014
Related Areas of Advance and Infrastructure
Sustainable development
Driving Forces
Transport
Areas of Advance