Cross wind effects on a simplified car model by a DES approach

The paper presents a finite-volume-based Detached-Eddy Simulation for the prediction of flow around a passenger vehicle. The flow solver used is ISIS–CFD, developed by the CFD Department of the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory of Ecole Centrale de Nantes. This article presents a cross wind simulation around the square-back Willy model for several yaw angles. The model was designed in order that separations are limited to the region of the base for moderate yaw angles. This model without sharp corners on the fore body and a square base is designed to facilitate the analysis of separations which are, in that case, limited to its leeward side and base. The angle between the upstream velocity and the direction of the model varies from 0° and 30°. The results are compared to a previous numerical study based on a RANS simulation and experimental data at the Reynolds number Re = 0.9 × 106. All comparisons (aerodynamic forces, wall pressures, and total pressure) show that DES simulations provide a better agreement with experimental data than isotropic or anisotropic statistical models, particularly for large yaw angles.

► A DES approach is used to investigate the cross wind effects around a simplified car model.
► We compare the numerical results with experiment data.
► For large yaw angles, the DES simulations provide a better agreement.