Numerical investigation of crossflow separation on the a-pillar of a passenger car
Journal article, 2018

The flow around passenger cars is characterized by many different separation structures, typically leading to vortices and areas of reversed flow. The flow phenomena in these patches show a strong interaction and the evolution of flow structures is difficult to understand from a physical point of view. Analyzing surface properties, such as pressure, vorticity, or shear stress, helps to identify different phenomena, but still it is not well understood how these are created. This paper investigates the crossflow separation (CFS) on the A-pillar of a passenger car using numerical simulations. It is discussed how the CFS and the resulting A-pillar vortex can be identified as well as how it is created. Additionally, the vortex strength is determined by its circulation to understand and discuss how the vortex preserves until it merges with the rear wake of the vehicle.

Author

Sabine Bonitz

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Lars Larsson

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Lennart Löfdahl

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Simone Sebben

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME

0098-2202 (ISSN) 1528-901X (eISSN)

Vol. 140 11 111105

Subject Categories

Geophysical Engineering

Other Materials Engineering

Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics

DOI

10.1115/1.4040107

More information

Latest update

12/10/2018