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

More information

Project Web Page at Chalmers

http://www.chalmers.se/en/projects/Pages/D...

Latest update

5/28/2018