Some Salient Features Of The Time-Averaged Ground Vehicle Wake

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">For a basic ground vehicle type of bluff body, the time averaged wake structure is analysed. At a model length based Reynolds number of 4.29 million, detailed pressure measurements, wake survey and force measurements were done in a wind tunnel. Some flow visualisation results were also obtained. Geometric parameter varied was base slant angle. A drag breakdown revealed that almost 85 % of body drag is pressure drag. Most of this drag is generated at the rear end.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Wake flow exhibits a triple deck system of horseshoe vortices. Strength, existence and merging of these vortices depend upon the base slant angle.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Characteristic features of the wake flow for the low drag and high drag configurations is described. Relevance of these phenomena to real ground vehicle flow is addressed.</div>