For a solar-powered racing car, aerodynamic drag has a direct effect on the energy required to maintain speed. Because the available electrical power is limited, reducing drag is an important part of improving overall vehicle performance.
FlowMotion contributed to the aerodynamic development of the Nuna solar car using a combination of CFD and wind-tunnel measurements. The simulations provided detailed information about the pressure distribution and airflow around the complete vehicle.
Regions of flow separation and other sources of aerodynamic loss could be identified and related to specific geometric features. Design variants could then be compared before being tested experimentally.
The wind-tunnel measurements provided an independent assessment of the aerodynamic performance, while CFD helped explain the physical mechanisms behind the measured differences.
This combined approach allowed the vehicle shape to be refined with the aim of reducing aerodynamic drag while respecting the practical constraints of the solar car.
