DRAG AND LIFT MEASUREMENTS OF FOUR BLUFF BODIES

Paper in proceeding, 2010

This report summarizes the detailed experimental study of drag and lift for four different bluff bodies. The experiments are compared with the numerical CFD simulations. Special attention is paid to the rear end shape and experiments as well as simulations are conducted using a stationary ground. The measurements are performed in the wind tunnel at Chalmers University of Technology. All force measurements are performed with an external balance mounted under the wind tunnel floor. The models are simplified vehicle like bluff bodies that are classified as square-back, fastback and boat-tailed rear ends. The main objective with the measurements was to get accurate results of lift forces to be used as reference data for CFD validations. The measurement results presented here will be followed up with similar experiments based on a moving ground boundary condition.