Description

Theory
1

Laboratory
3

Instructors

Pedro Areal

Contents

CP1- Introduction to vehicle aerodynamics: phenomenology; Navier-Stokes equations; turbulence
CP2- Boundary layer theory: plane boundary layer; pressure gradient boundary layer; wing profiles
CP3- Outer flow with separation: separation of flow in wing profiles; the wake of vehicles
CP4- Numerical methods in fluid mechanics: steady and transient regime; convective terms; turbulence model
CP5- Fundamentals and limitations of computational fluid mechanics applied to wing profiles (XFoil and Areosandbox) and vehicles(OpenFOAM)
CP6- Fundamentals and limitations of experimental measurements of lift and drag vehicle flow in wind tunnel and track testing.

Learning Outcomes

To the general learning outcome of understanding vehicle aerodynamics correspond the following specific learning outcomes:

OB1- Know the appearance and characteristics of the flow around the vehicle; know the effect caused by the airfoils and spoilers in the flow; recognize the Navier-Stokes equations; understand what is turbulence and its consequences.
OB2- Apply the boundary layer theory and understand its fundamentals, the flow in flat plate and in wing profiles, with and without pressure gradient.
OB3- Understand the flow separation phenomenon, its consequences and ways to reduce it (know how to identify the detachment from the simulation results).
OB4- Have a practical knowledge of the numerical methods on which computational fluid mechanics (CFD) is based in order to be able to make sustained decisions regarding the schemes to be used in simulation programs, i.e. know what the various dictionary configuration options mean during an OpenFOAM simulation
OB5- Be able to implement simulations and to interpret and analyse them using OpenFOAM and Paraview
OB6- To have a practical knowledge of the limitations and fundamentals of wind tunnel construction and of the quantities that can be measured in such equipments, as well as the advantages, disadvantages and complementarity with CFD.