Simulation of vehicle aerodynamics using a vortex element method

Abstract

Recent developments of the 3-D Lagrangian vortex element method for bluff body flows are presented. In this approach attached boundary layer regions are modelled using infinitely thin vortex sheets while Lagrangian vortex elements are used for the separation regions and the wake. Preliminary results for the flow past a simplified generic truck geometry are presented. Further developments, aimed at the development of a hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian solver, are briefly introduced.

Additional details