Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 4th Edition

A special issue of Fluids (ISSN 2311-5521). This special issue belongs to the section "Mathematical and Computational Fluid Mechanics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2025 | Viewed by 4468

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Science, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28228-0001, USA
2. Coordinator, Digital Design Optimization Initiative, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28228-0001, USA
3. Chair, SAE Road Vehicles Aerodynamics Committee, Warrendale, PA, USA
Interests: race and street car aerodynamics; aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of passenger and commercial vehicles; experimental and computational study of jets, wakes, and boundary layer flows; flow separation and control; aerodynamics of small aerial vehicles; shock–boundary layer interactions; data-driven turbulence modeling; machine learning methods in fluid flow classification
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aerodynamics is a major factor in the design and development of vehicles, whether they are passenger or commercial road vehicles, race cars, trains, or air vehicles. In the early days of vehicle aerodynamics, the major goals were improved fuel economy and speed gain via drag reduction, as well as the improvement in occupant safety and comfort through minimizing the effects of aerodynamic instability. However, with the development of faster ground vehicles and high-speed road and train transportation infrastructures, the induction of wind noise due to aerodynamic flow instability, and with aeroacoustics becoming another significant design consideration, aeroacoustics has become integral to vehicle aerodynamic design. Though drag reduction and wind noise control are the primary considerations for passenger and commercial vehicles, race cars and high-performance road and street cars require the creation of an aerodynamic downforce for better traction and cornering. Thus, aerodynamics has become the single most important aspect in the design of race and performance vehicles. In addition, it was recently observed that significant drag reduction and, hence, improved fuel economy can be achieved when road vehicles are driven in convoy, which is called platooning; the same phenomenon is used in racing for increased speed, which is called drafting.

Road and track testing, wind-tunnel experiments, and computer simulations are the three tools used in vehicle aerodynamics. These approaches have their advantages and limitations. Correlating the results of these approaches for the same vehicle is challenging, and improving the correlations between these approaches is an ongoing process. As such, newer on-road and wind-tunnel measurement techniques and CFD methodologies are continuously evolving. Additionally, in laboratory environments, efforts are ongoing to include the effects of real-life road conditions, such as the impact of wind gusts or crosswinds, on vehicle performance, stability, and control. In recent decades, considerable and ongoing improvements have been made in these areas.

We have planned a Special Issue of Fluids dedicated to recent developments in experimental and modeling methodologies in vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. Potential broad topics for submission include the following:

  • Road, train, air, and race vehicle aerodynamics;
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation of vehicle internal and external flows;
  • Wind-tunnel testing of vehicles;
  • Road and track testing of ground vehicles;
  • Fundamentals of vehicle aerodynamics;
  • Drag reduction and flow control methodologies for vehicles;
  • Wind-tunnel aeroacoustic measurements and testing techniques;
  • Modeling and simulation of ground vehicle aeroacoustics;
  • Wind noise reduction methodologies;
  • Road vehicle platooning and driving in proximity in racing;
  • Crosswind stability of ground and aerial vehicles;
  • Replication of on-road conditions in wind-tunnel experiments;
  • CFD–wind-tunnel correlation of aerodynamic and aeroacoustic measurements;
  • Machine learning applications in vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics;
  • Artificial intelligence-driven optimization of aerodynamic and acoustic performance;
  • Data-driven fluid mechanics and turbulence modeling for vehicle applications;
  • Reduced Order Methods (ROM) for efficient simulation of vehicle aerodynamics;
  • Integration of experimental data and CFD for enhanced predictive accuracy;
  • Advanced sensors and data acquisition techniques in vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics;
  • Real-time aerodynamic and aeroacoustic feedback systems for vehicles;
  • Hybrid experimental-CFD approaches for vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics;
  • High-performance computing (HPC) applications in vehicle fluid dynamics;
  • Development and validation of digital twins for vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics.

Prof. Dr. Mesbah Uddin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • road, train, air, and race vehicle aerodynamics
  • computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation of vehicle internal and external flows
  • wind-tunnel testing of vehicles
  • road and track testing of ground vehicles
  • fundamentals of vehicle aerodynamics
  • drag reduction and flow control methodologies for vehicles
  • wind-tunnel aeroacoustic measurements and testing techniques
  • modeling and simulation of ground vehicle aeroacoustics
  • wind noise reduction methodologies
  • road vehicle platooning and driving in proximity in racing
  • crosswind stability of ground and aerial vehicles
  • replication of on-road conditions in wind-tunnel experiments
  • CFD–wind-tunnel correlation of aerodynamic and aeroacoustic measurements
  • machine learning applications in vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics
  • artificial intelligence-driven optimization of aerodynamic and acoustic performance
  • data-driven fluid mechanics and turbulence modeling for vehicle applications
  • reduced Order Methods (ROM) for efficient simulation of vehicle aerodynamics
  • integration of experimental data and CFD for enhanced predictive accuracy
  • advanced sensors and data acquisition techniques in vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics
  • real-time aerodynamic and aeroacoustic feedback systems for vehicles
  • hybrid experimental-CFD approaches for vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics
  • high-performance computing (HPC) applications in vehicle fluid dynamics
  • development and validation of digital twins for vehicle aerodynamics and aeroacoustics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2043 KiB  
Article
Spectral Analysis of Confined Cylinder Wakes
by Wilson Lu, Leon Chan and Andrew Ooi
Fluids 2025, 10(4), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids10040084 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 216
Abstract
Bluff body flows, while commonly assumed to be isolated, are often subject to confinement effects due to interactions with nearby objects. In this study, a simple approximation of such a flow configuration is considered, where a cylinder is placed symmetrically within an infinite [...] Read more.
Bluff body flows, while commonly assumed to be isolated, are often subject to confinement effects due to interactions with nearby objects. In this study, a simple approximation of such a flow configuration is considered, where a cylinder is placed symmetrically within an infinite channel. The presence of walls implies the wake is physically confined and introduces interactions between the wake and the boundary layer along the wall. To isolate the effect of confinement, simulations are conducted with slip channel walls, removing the boundary layers. Comparisons of flow statistics between simulations of slip and no-slip channel walls show minor differences at a low blockage ratio, β (defined as the ratio of cylinder diameter to channel height), while for larger blockage ratios, the differences are significant. Spectral analysis is also performed on the wake and shear layers. At the lowest blockage, β=0.3, little modification is made to the wake, and we find that Kármán vortices are one-way coupled to the boundary layers along the walls. For β=0.5, wall–wake interactions are determined to significantly contribute to wake dynamics, thus to two-way coupling Kármán vortices and the wall boundary layers. Finally, for β=0.7, the absence of Kármán shedding couples Kelvin–Helmoltz vortices in the shear layer, separating off the cylinder to the wall boundary layer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 4th Edition)
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16 pages, 14747 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Flow Past a Double-Slanted Ahmed Body
by Matthew Aultman and Lian Duan
Fluids 2025, 10(2), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids10020035 - 31 Jan 2025
Viewed by 888
Abstract
For this study, Improved Delayed Detached-Eddy Simulations (IDDES) were used to analyze the wake of a modified Ahmed body with varying upper and lower slants. The modified geometry produced a constant projected vertical base area, ensuring that the base and slant drag were [...] Read more.
For this study, Improved Delayed Detached-Eddy Simulations (IDDES) were used to analyze the wake of a modified Ahmed body with varying upper and lower slants. The modified geometry produced a constant projected vertical base area, ensuring that the base and slant drag were a function of the pressure caused by the wake structures. Except at extreme slant angles, the general structures of the wake were a base torus with two pairs of streamwise-oriented vortices on each slant. These structures strongly correlated with the drag contribution of the rear surfaces: the torus with the vertical base and the streamwise-oriented vortices with the slants. As such, the base drag was minimized when the torus was most centrally aligned with the base, producing the largest stagnation region. Two slant-drag minima developed corresponding to two regimes of vortical flow on opposing slants. On one slant, the vortices were attached, and the drag correlated with the size and strength of the vortices. On the other slant, the vortices separated, and the drag correlated with the slant normal due to a more uniform pressure. This demonstrates a rich and complex set of interactions that must be managed in the development of base drag caused by wake flows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 4th Edition)
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22 pages, 8871 KiB  
Article
Reduced-Order Model of a Time-Trial Cyclist Helmet for Aerodynamic Optimization Through Mesh Morphing and Enhanced with Real-Time Interactive Visualization
by E. Di Meo, A. Lopez, C. Groth, M. E. Biancolini and P. P. Valentini
Fluids 2024, 9(12), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids9120300 - 17 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1093
Abstract
Aerodynamics is a key factor in time-trial cycling. Over the years, various aspects have been investigated, including positioning, clothing, bicycle design, and helmet shape. The present study focuses on the development of a methodology for the aerodynamic optimization of a time-trial helmet through [...] Read more.
Aerodynamics is a key factor in time-trial cycling. Over the years, various aspects have been investigated, including positioning, clothing, bicycle design, and helmet shape. The present study focuses on the development of a methodology for the aerodynamic optimization of a time-trial helmet through the implementation of a reduced-order model, alongside advanced simulation techniques, such as computational fluid dynamics, radial basis functions, mesh morphing, and response surface methodology. The implementation of a reduced-order model enhances the understanding of aerodynamic interactions compared to traditional optimization workflows reported in sports-related research, facilitating the identification of an optimal helmet shape during the design phase. The study offers practical insights for refining helmet design. Starting with a baseline teardrop profile, several morphing configurations are systematically tested, resulting in a 10% reduction in the drag force acting on the helmet. The reduced-order model also facilitates the analysis of turbulent flow patterns on the cyclist’s body, providing a detailed understanding of aerodynamic interactions. By leveraging reduced-order models and advanced simulation techniques, this study contributes to ongoing efforts to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of time-trial helmets, ultimately supporting the goal of improved athlete performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 4th Edition)
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27 pages, 14913 KiB  
Article
Numerical Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Use of Endplates in Front Wings in Formula One Cars under Multiple Track Operating Conditions
by Aldo Saul Laguna-Canales, Guillermo Urriolagoitia-Sosa, Beatriz Romero-Ángeles, Miguel Martinez-Mondragon, Miguel Angel García-Laguna, Reyner Iván Yparrea-Arreola, Jonatan Mireles-Hernández, Francisco Carrasco-Hernández, Alejandro Urriolagoitia-Luna and Guillermo Manuel Urriolagoitia-Calderón
Fluids 2024, 9(10), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids9100232 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1458
Abstract
The last change in the technical regulations of Formula One that came into force in 2022 brought with it significant changes in the aerodynamics of the vehicle; among these, those made to the front wing stand out since the wing was changed to [...] Read more.
The last change in the technical regulations of Formula One that came into force in 2022 brought with it significant changes in the aerodynamics of the vehicle; among these, those made to the front wing stand out since the wing was changed to a more straightforward shape with fewer parts but with no less efficiency. The reduction in its components suggests that if one part were to suffer damage or break down, the efficiency of the entire front wing would be affected; however, from 2022 to date, there have been occasions in which the cars have continued running on the track despite losing some of the endplates. This research seeks to understand the endplates’ impact on the front wing through a series of CFD simulations using the k-ω SST turbulence model. To determine efficiency, the aerodynamic forces generated on the vehicle’s front wing, suspension, and front wheels were compared in two different operating situations using a model with the front wing in good condition and another in which the endplates were removed. The first case study simulated a straight line at a maximum speed where the Downforce is reduced by 2.716% while the Drag and Yaw increase by 7.092% and 96.332%, respectively, when the model does not have endplates. On the other hand, the second case study was the passage through a curve with a decrease of 17.707% in Downforce, 6.532% in Drag, and 22.200% in Yaw. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Vehicles, 4th Edition)
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