Numerical simulation of the transient aerodynamic phenomena induced by passing manoeuvres

Several three-dimensional Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulations of the passing generic vehicles (Ahmed bodies) are presented. The relative motion of vehicles was obtained using a combination of deforming and sliding computational grids. The vehicle studied is an Ahmed body with an angle of the rear end slanted surface of 30°. Several different relative velocities and transversal distances between vehicles were studied. The aerodynamic influence of the passage on the overtaken vehicle was studied. The results of the simulations were found to agree well with the existing experimental data. Numerical results were used to explain effects of the overtaking manoeuvre on the main aerodynamic coefficients.

► Dynamic 3D numerical simulation of overtaking manoeuvres was performed. ► ζ−fζ−f turbulence model and Deforming/Sliding mesh method were used. ► Effects of the relative velocity and the transversal spacing were studied. ► A thorough analysis of the overtaking manoeuvre was made.