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MORPHING AND ADJOINT OPTIMIZATION CFD
CFD and Morphing techniques have allowed a greater complexity of car shapes to be analyzed. By adding Adjoint, a CFD solver that allows for topology optimization, into the equation, a single CFD run can be done to identify the areas of a car that can be pushed/pulled to lower drag, increase downforce, change CoP/Balance and more. Then, using morphing tools the new surfaces can be quickly produced to be turned into new bodies, ducting, parts to improve track performance.
An example would be the open wheel car image above. This image produced from an Adjoint run shows areas on the body to push or pull on to create a more efficient car. The base surface is imported into morphing software and using a file from the CFD run, new surfaces produced.
ARC's ELEMENTS CFD Adjoint solver delivers in a single run what would take many numerous CFD runs using traditional parametric techniques. In addition, ELEMENTS uses 2nd order accuracy on Adjoint runs to make them even more accurate than 1st order currently being used in most CFD programs.
For more information on using CFD, Adjoint and further your development program to increase performance, call ARC at 317-291-8600 or email at sales@arcindy.com
WIND TUNNEL vs CFD vs ON-TRACK TESTING
There are three ways of doing aerodynamic development, using wind tunnels, CFD and on-track/road development. ARC's experience of working with all three formats and assisting customers with them allows ARC to understand the benefit to each type.
CFD is best for:
- Development Understanding, an array of images and videos are produced to help understand flow, pressures and drag.
- Drag Accumulation Plot, to gain an understanding of where drag is coming from and how it builds up over the length of the vehicle.
- Examining Flow Structure, assist with developing new ideas or tweaking current parts.
Wind Tunnel is best for:
- Percentage Fuel Economy Savings, obtain the overall number.
- Evaluation of Multiple Devices, using a scale model is the most cost efficient method to make parts and gain data quickly.
- Wind Average Drag, able to do a full yaw sweep during a single wind tunnel run.
- Separate Tractor and Trailer Forces, two force balance sensors allow drag to be measured separately on the tractor and trailer.
- Validating CFD, confirming results.
On-Track/Road is best for:
- Test a Single Device, often used by Fleets to verify the part setup on their actual trucks.
- Drivetrain and Overall Efficiency, rubber meets the roads with a running engine.
Read more about ARC CFD & Wind Tunnel testing optimized for the Commercial Industry at the ARC website and read the brochures on the ARC wind tunnel and CFD capabilities.
To further your testing, call 317-291-8600 or email at sales@arcindy.com
ARC WINS ASIAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP SUV WIND TUNNEL PROGRAM
ARC has won an SUV project with a major foreign OEM to assist them with improving their aerodynamics and styling. This is an important project for both the OEM and ARC as it demonstrates the importance of working together in a cost effective manner to reduce greenhouse gases and improve fuel economy. The improvements found will transfer across to the OEM's sales, the driver's cost of ownership and the planet's health.
ARC is underway building a highly detailed scale model using math data directly from the OEM to use in the ARC rolling road wind tunnel.
To learn more about ARC's offerings for the Automotive Industry, visit the ARC website, call 317-291-8600 or email at sales@arcindy.com.
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TECH ZONE
What types of development testing can be done on the drivetrain test rig?
The ARC drivetrain test rig, located at the ARC Indianapolis HQ, can be used to test areas such as:
- Additives Effects
- Bearings
- Break In
- Build Quality Control
- Differintial Development
- Durability
- Oil
- Surface Coating
- Temp vs Efficiency
To learn more about the drivetrain rig, visit the ARC website or read the Drivetrain Test Rig brochure.
TECH ZONE is an additional area of our newsletter where each month a customer question will be answered by the related expert at ARC. So, please send in any questions you might have, from wind tunnel test instrumentation, CFD workings,to tuning your shocks.
Ask your questions at techzone@arcindy.com
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