Usage of CFD in Automobile Industry

Dr. Ugur GUVENAerospace Engineer (P.hD)

Nuclear Technology Engineer (M.Sc)

Experimental Automotive Design• Experimenting with automobiles or even their

parts can be a time consuming and expensive process. Many automotive design companies will refrain from this due to the cost.

Use of CFD in Automotive Testing and Design

• CFD makes it possible to build a software prototype of the valve that can be solved to determine the pressure drop of any particular design iteration without having to build a prototype.

• A key advantage of CFD is that the simulation also provides diagnostic information such as the flow velocity, direction, temperature, pressure at every point in the flow field. Thus, engineers can analyze any geometry for faults and for efficiency.

Use of CFD in Automotive Testing and Design

Use of CFD in Automotive Testing and Design

• Automobile Aerodynamics Testing• Combustion & Fuel Systems Design Testing• Engine Flow Testing• Underhood Thermal Management• Small Internal Auto Parts Manufacturing &

Testing• Passenger Comfort Analysis• Outer Body Paint & Design

Use of CFD in Aerodynamics Testing

• Aerodynamics of Automobile Performance is the Most Widely Used Application of CFD

Use of CFD in Automotive Aerodynamics

• With CFD aerodynamic design testing, you can redo your test thousands of times with no extra cost.

Use of CFD in Aerodynamics Testing

• Testing of a Flow Around Wheels

Use of CFD in Aerodynamics Analysis

Use of CFD in Combustion Design• Combustion Testing can be Done Numerous

Times with CFD Simulation Techniques

Use of CFD in Combustion Design

Use of CFD in Fuel Pump Analysis

Use of CFD in Heat Transfer Analysis

Use of CFD in Underhood Thermal Management

• Due to factors such as aerodynamic considerations, styling, packaging, and the addition of new components, the space available under the hood continues to be reduced and overcrowded, making underhood thermal management a critical part of the design process.

Use of CFD in Underhood Thermal Management

• By performing flow and thermal analysis with CFD early in the design cycle, users can identify any problems earlier, which significantly reduces the design time and cost while increasing the reliability of the vehicle.

Use of CFD in Underhood Thermal Management

• Due to tough regulations for reductions in engine noise and emissions, expectations for better performance and fuel economy, the space available under the hood has been significantly reduced causing Thermal Management Problems due to close proximity of components.

Use of CFD in Small Auto Parts Manufacturing

• The design of interior auto parts can be less time consuming with CFD Analysis Methods

Use of CFD in Small Auto Parts Manufacturing

Use of CFD in Small Auto Parts Manufacturing

Use of CFD in Passenger Comfort Analysis• The simulation of passenger compartment climatic

conditions is becoming increasingly important. CFD complements wind tunnel and field testing to help achieve improved thermal comfort while reducing vehicle development time and cost

Use of CFD in Passenger Comfort Analysis• Detailed flow in the cabin and thermal patterns

on passengers can be analyzed for both vehicle warm-up and cool-down cycles.

Use of CFD in Passenger Comfort Analysis

Use of CFD in Passenger Comfort Analysis

Use of CFD in Passenger Comfort Analysis

Use of CFD in Outer Body of Automobiles • The various parts as well as the painting

process on the outer body of the car can be utilized more cheaply and easily using CFD methods.

Use of CFD in Outer Body of Automobiles

CFD in Automotive Design• Overall CFD has become an accepted and

widely used method in all aspects of automobile design engineering.

• It is not possible for any engineer to master design & production & quality control & productivity without a knowledge of CFD.

• Hence an automobile design engineer should know at least one CFD software very well along with at least one programming language such as FORTRAN.

THANK YOU

drguven@live.com