Mesh Convergence Analysis on The Aerodynamic Performance of A Sedan Vehicle
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Abstract
This article performs a comprehensive mesh convergence analysis on the aerodynamic efficiency of sedan vehicles. Leading CAD and CFD tools, such as CATIA and ANSYS Fluent are used to model the geometry and run the aerodynamic simulations. The simulations are centred on evaluating the drag coefficient (Cd) for four different sedan profiles. A full scale and half scale profile model configuration were used to analyse and assess the simulations’ impact precision and computational efficiency. A thorough mesh sensitivity investigation is conducted to determine the effect and influence of the element sizing on Cd precision and processing time. The finding points to an element size of 0.5 m, as the optimal choice offering a balance between computational resource efficacy and precision on aerodynamic predictions. The full-scale model reduces the computational time significantly without compromising accuracy hence making it the selected choice for the aerodynamic simulations. The findings of this study underscore the importance of selecting an appropriate mesh element size for vehicle aerodynamic model. This study recommends a 0.5 m element size for future aerodynamic evaluations, thereby improving the equilibrium between simulation accuracy and computational cost in sedan aerodynamics.
Manuscript Received: 27 January 2025, Accepted: 3 March 2025, Published: 15 March 2025, ORCiD: 0000-0001-9707-0782
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