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More than for any other sport, the technology used for motor sports design is an important component for victory. This discipline requires a subtle balance of engine power maximization, minimization of obstacles to speed such as drag, and the ability to maintain full control of the vehicle often under dangerous conditions. The need for robustness and safety, a critical and constant concern, adds complexity to a designer’s job; the vehicle’s structure must be sturdy and the engine must perform well even when under huge constraints. Safety becomes especially important for the drivers who are at risk of encountering impacts at very high speeds. The vehicle’s structure needs to ensure that, despite the severity of shock, injury to the driver is minimized. Engineering simulation solutions from ANSYS are widely used to assist the design of new vehicles in various motor sports disciplines such as: The unparalleled breadth of our solutions spans multiple simulation technologies that provide the necessary tools to import the most intricate geometry and study very complex fluid flow, such as in-cylinder combustion, nonlinear thermomechanical behavior of innovative materials such as composites and their resistance to deformation and fatigue, or specific electromagnetic or acoustic issues, all within an integrated environment. Optimizing designs for cutting-edge vehicles can be achieved through unequalled technical depth within specific simulation disciplines, and the highest level of numerical accuracy is ensured through our comprehensive multiphysics approach that enables bringing advanced physics together and combining, in the same model, advanced turbulence fluid flow, nonlinear structural analysis of parts and assemblies and electro-magnetic fields. This innovative approach of Simulation-Driven Vehicle Design (SDVD) offers the designer the opportunity to optimize any parameter. With the computational power of computers growing quickly and the development of huge clusters, it is now possible to increase the size, the complexity and, therefore, the potential of any virtual prototype to provide more degrees of freedom to identify the competitive advantage that can make the difference between winning and a non-podium finish. |
Flow over a LeMans Car
Visualization was an important tool in DaimlerChrysler's return to NASCAR after 25 years. The company helped the racing team to better understand the role of aerodynamics in determining why some cars move to the front, while others fall back.
Courtesy of Advantage CFD, Division of Reynard Motorsport
Pathlines illustrate the presence of the flow recirculation behind the gurney flap. |
