Effect of Passenger Car’s Rear Deck Geometry on Its Aerodynamic Coefficients

Abstract

The effects of aerodynamic modifications near the rear deck of a passenger-car based race car were investigated experimentally. The modifications were evaluated on a quarter-scale wind tunnel model and included a rear spoiler and a wing. The experimental results indicate that these devices alter the flow field on the vehicle’s body resulting in considerable negative lift coefficients. Also, this aerodynamic interaction is sensitive to rear wing location and when properly placed the total lift owing to the rear wing, combined with its effect on the vehicle’s body, can amount to twice the lift of the isolated wing.