Optimization of the aerodynamic performance of vehicles using the z-f turbulence model and response surface models

Other conference contribution, 2008

An efficient optimization strategy that uses steady Navier-Stokes simulations with the z-f turbulence model and response surface approximations of the objectives was demonstrated. The optimization was applied on a bus model with the aim to improve its cross-wind stability and to decrease its air resistance. Response surface models, based on both polynomial approximations and radial basis neural networks, were used and compared. The bus design with sharp vertical edges and largest angle of the upper half of the top face (in respect to the vertical front plane) was found to be the best for the cross-wind stability. The most rounded vertical edges and the largest angle of the upper half of the top face resulted in the smallest drag of the bus. Both these results are in a good agreement with the previous experimental study. The present work shows that the proposed optimization procedure is reliable and useful for optimization of aerodynamic properties of ground vehicles