EFFECTS OF AERODYNAMIC CHANGES FOR A CAR CAUSED BY ANOTHER IN ITS PROXIMITY: NUMERICAL STUDY

This project is study about the effect of aerodynamic changed for a car caused by another
in its proximity. When the cars are moving near each other like moving back to back,
aerodynamic of the fluid surrounding two vehicles are changing. The changes of
aerodynamic can generate severe force variation on the vehicles and these forces can
have an adverse effect on vehicle handling and stability. Aerodynamic changes are
studied on models of vehicle using Computer Fluid Dynamic (CFD). The aim is to
validate the CFD models against experiment data which were carried out previously at
UTP. The model of the car and simulation will be carried out by using Gambit and Fluent
software. The simulations include different experimental cases with varying the
separating distance between the car models. Once the CFD simulations are validated,
more case can be simulated and extended conclusions can be drawn out. The study is
focusing on the drag force and lift force as result of aerodynamic changes when the
vehicles in specific position. The results from the simulations show that, the best position
for aerodynamically which is less Drag force and safety condition was directly behind the
other cars which at one and half width distance (18.75 cm).