AU3037 Road Vehicle Aerodynamics Syllabus:
AU3037 Road Vehicle Aerodynamics Syllabus – Anna University Regulation 2021
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
i. To learn the basics of fluid mechanics on vehicle motion.
ii. To expose to the shape optimization techniques followed in passenger car industry.
iii. To relate the influence of rolling resistance and air resistance of various commercial vehicles upon drag force.
iv. To interpret the relation between motorcycle shape and coefficient of drag.
v. To give insight to wind tunnel and road testing techniques practiced in industry.
UNIT I SCOPE OF ROAD VEHICLE AERODYNAMICS
Introduction, Properties of Incompressible Fluids, Flow Phenomena Related to Vehicles, Overall Forces and Moments, Resistances to Vehicle Motion, Performance, Fuel Consumption and Fuel Economy, Strategy for Lowest Fuel Consumption.
UNIT II AIR RESISTANCE ON PASSENGER CARS
Car as a Bluff Body, Drag and Lift, Drag Fractions and Their Local Origins ‐ Front End, Windshield and A‐Pillar, Roof, Rear End, Plan View and Side Panels, Underbody, Wheels and Wheel Housings, Front Spoiler, Rear Spoiler. Strategies for Body Shape Development – Objectives, Detail Optimization, Shape Optimization, Facelift, Adaptation of Attachments.
UNIT III AERODYNAMIC DRAG ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Relation between Tractive Resistance, Drag Reduction and Fuel Consumption, Aerodynamic Drag Coefficients of Various Commercial Vehicles, Drag Minimization on Trucks, Buses. Add‐ on devices for drag reduction. Reduction of Vehicle Soiling.
UNIT IV MOTORCYCLE AERODYNAMICS
Development of Motorcycle Aerodynamics, Riding Dynamics and its Relationship with Aerodynamics, Methods of Measurement in Road Tests, Rider Influences ‐ Rider and Pillion Passenger, Clothing and Helmets. Case Studies on Concept models.
UNIT V WIND TUNNELS, MEASUREMENT AND TEST TECHNIQUES
Fundamentals of Wind Tunnel Technique, Tests with Reduced‐Scale Models Details of Model Construction and Test Technique, Reynolds Number Effects, Climatic Tunnels. Measuring Equipment and Transducers ‐ Measurement of Aerodynamic Forces and Moments, Pressure Measurements, Measurement of the Airflow Velocity, Temperature Measurement.
TOTAL: 45 PERIODS
COURSE OUTCOMES:
i. Knowledge upon the forces & moments influencing drag.
ii. Solve exercises related to fuel economy & drag.
iii. Appraise upon the techniques of shape based optimization practiced in industry.
iv. Awareness about the influence of rider position in motorcycle aerodynamics.
v. Expose to fundamentals of Experimental testing.
TEXT BOOKS:
1. Alan Pope, Jewel B. Barlow, William H. Rae “Low speed wind tunnel testing”, John Wiley & Sons, Third edition, 1999
2. Hucho. W.H. – “Aerodynamic of Road Vehicles –From Fluid Mechanics to Vehicle Engineering”, Society of Automotive Engineers, U.S, Fourth edition, 1998
REFERENCES:
1. R.H.Barnard‐“Road vehicle aerodynamic design, An Introduction” , Mechaero publications, Third edition, 2010
2. T. Yomi Obidi ‐ “Theory and Applications of Aerodynamics for Ground Vehicles” , SAE International, 20