The Aerodynamic Interaction Between an Inverted Wing and a Rotating Wheel

Abstract

The fundamental aerodynamic influence of downstream wheels on a front wing flow field and vice versa has been investigated using generic wind tunnel models. The research has been conducted using a wing with a fixed configuration, whereas the wing ride height with respect to the ground has been varied as the primary variable. The overlap and gap between the wing and wheels have been kept constant within the context of the current paper. At higher ride heights the wheels reduce wing downforce and increase wing drag, whereas the drag of the wheels themselves also rises. At low ride heights, however, the opposite happens and the wing performance improves, while the wheels produce less drag. The ride height range has been subdivided into force regions with consistent characteristics throughout each of them. Force and pressure measurements, particle image velocimetry results, and oil flow images have been used to explain the differences between the force regions and to derive the governing flow mechanisms. The trajectories and interaction of vortices play a dominant role in the observed force behavior, both as force enhancing and reducing mechanisms. The effect of wheel circulation, flow separation, and flow channeling by the ground and by the wheels are among the other main contributors that have been discussed within this paper.