Aerodynamic simulation and shape optimization of Altair’s 3-Wheeler Motorbike
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Ημερομηνία
2018-04-29
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During the past few decades, CFD has entered the world of product development. Companies follow certain processes for improving their design using CFD tools. This thesis contains a demonstration of such a process.
Altair University designed a 3-wheeler motorbike geometry which was tested in a wind tunnel in the University of Mosbach. The results from this test were used as validating data for a CFD simulation that was built and run using the CAE software suite HyperWorks (HyperMesh, Acusolve, Hyperview) provided by Altair. A necessary literature review was conducted for the correct setup of the CFD simulations. The wind tunnel test was simulated and the results showed a satisfactory correlation with the physical test after a mesh independency study. The geometry was then simplified for an external aerodynamics CFD simulation. The settings of the CFD study for the external aerodynamics case, were based on the wind tunnel test simulation setup. The drag coefficient of the 3-wheeler motorbike was estimated. A comparison was made between the resultant drag coefficient of the wind tunnel test and the external aerodynamics simulations.
Subsequently, the original model was re-designed. The goal was to improve the original model by reducing the drag coefficient of the vehicle. The new design led to a more streamlined body and on the new geometry, CFD simulations were conducted. These simulations resulted in a significantly lower drag coefficient than the one of the original design. The drag coefficient of the original model was approximately 0.35 and after the re-design process, it dropped to 0.15, a 57% improvement. The reason behind this significant difference is the absence of extensive recirculation areas past the rear of the re-designed model, in contrast with the original design.
The re-designed model was 3D-printed at the premises of the International Hellenic University using the BCN3D Sigma 3D printer, which utilizes the FDM method.
Keywords: 3-Wheeler motorbike; Altair; Acusolve; drag coefficient; Hyperworks
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3 - Wheeler motorbike, Altair, Acusolve, Drag coefficient, Hyperworks