Bluff Body Drag Reduction with Ventilated Base Cavities

Howell, J; Sims-Williams, D; Sprot, A; Hamlin, F; Dominy, R

Abstract

Various techniques to reduce the aerodynamic drag of bluff bodies through the mechanism of base pressure recovery have been investigated. These include, for example, boat-tailing, base cavities and base bleed. In this study an Ahmed body in squareback configuration is modified to include a base cavity of variable depth, which can be ventilated by slots. The investigation is conducted in freestream and in ground proximity. It is shown that, with a plain cavity, the overall body drag is reduced for a wide range of cavity depths, but a distinct minimum drag condition is obtained. On adding ventilation slots a comparable drag reduction is achieved but at a greatly reduced cavity depth. Pressure data in the cavity is used to determine the base drag component and shows that the device drag component is significant. Modifications of the slot geometry to reduce this drag component and the effects of slot distribution are investigated. Some flow visualisation using PIV for different cavity configurations is also presented.

Citation

Howell, J., Sims-Williams, D., Sprot, A., Hamlin, F., & Dominy, R. (2012). Bluff Body Drag Reduction with Ventilated Base Cavities. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 5(1), 152-160. https://doi.org/10.4271/2012-01-0171

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 16, 2012
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 26, 2015
• Journal: SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems
• Print ISSN: 1946-3995
• Electronic ISSN: 1946-4002
• Publisher: SAE International
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 152-160
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4271/2012-01-0171
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1485701