Aerodynamics analysis of a solar-powered racing car using computational fluid dynamics

• Main Authors: Ubando, Aristotle T., Omboy, Byron Michael C., Marfori, Isidro Antonio V.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2011
• Subjects: Solar cars—Aerodynamics; Automobiles, Racing—Aerodynamics; Computational fluid dynamics; Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/8562
• Institution: De La Salle University

In designing a solar-powered racing car, one of the factors that need to be considered is its aerodynamics performance. The shape of a car is a discrete characteristic of its actual performance. The lesser the drag around the exterior surfaces of the car the much faster it can possibly go. Manipulating the shape by design of each of the components of the car would result to different results in the aerodynamics characteristic of the car. However, in getting the actual aerodynamic performance of different designs in an actual experiment would entail much cost and time. The study aims to establish an alternative methodology in evaluating the aerodynamic performance of a solar-car design using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Results show that the use of CFD analysis in aerodynamics performance can simplify the design phase by evaluating the drag and lift coefficient.