Numerical Drag Reduction of a Ground Vehicle by NACA2415 Airfoil Structured Vortex Generator and Spoiler

Using of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have big advanteges for design process components in the automotive industry. Flow structures around vehicle and drag forces can investigate in CFD without producing real size prototype vehicle. The drag force affect fuel efficiency and drivability too. In this study, the drag coefficient of 1/15 scale minibus model was minimizated by NACA 2415 airfoil structured vortex generator and front spoiler in Fluent®. Flow analyses were performed at the 5 different free stream velocities in the range of 2.8 × 10 5 –6.6 × 10 5 Reynolds numbers, where the dynamic similarity condition was provided. The drag coefficient of base minibus model was 0.415. The C D coefficient of the model minibus was decreased 10.94 % with original designed NACA 2415 airfoil structured vortex generator in model 1. In total of 22.59 % drag reduction was obtained by designed front spoiler. The effect of this drag reduction on fuel consumption about 6 ~ 12 % at high vehicle speeds.