Aerodynamic of effects of a passenger car rear spoiler on axles

In a two-year project, the impact of a rear spoiler on the stability and fuel consumption of a passenger car was studied. The hot-wire anemometry method was employed to gather velocity information from wind tunnel tests and develop the velocity pattern around the model. The findings were then validated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations.

To perform the CFD simulations, Gambit, Ansys Design Modeler, and Ansys Mesh were used to draw the model and generate the mesh. The FLUENT software was then used to solve the turbulent flow around the vehicle with a rear spoiler at different angles and speeds. A non-dimensional parameter was defined to encompass both stability and fuel consumption, and the results showed that a rear spoiler with an attack angle of 5° had the best overall influence on both stability and fuel consumption.

Our findings indicate that calculating the lift coefficient alone is not sufficient to determine stability, and that the loads on the axles should also be considered. Our research demonstrates the importance of considering both stability and fuel consumption when designing and optimizing a rear spoiler for a passenger car.