Novel Base drag reduction devices

This project will explore the potential for novel base drag reduction technologies for cars. Physical (reduced-scale wind tunnel) and numerical (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations will be used to understand the structure of the flow, identify opportunities for flow control, propose new approaches and determine their likely performance. This could include the use of passive jets, exploiting rear wheel wake interaction or manipulating base surface roughness.
Investigating the role of flow unsteadiness in base drag generation is central to this work. Manipulating flow unsteadiness for base drag reduction is poorly understood, as are rear wheel wake interactions. The academic challenge arises from the complexity of vehicle base and wheel wakes; they are intrinsically unsteady, requiring the use of high-resolution time-resolved measurement and simulation techniques.