Abstract
Four projects focussing on ground effect aerodynamics with automotive
applications are briefly outlined, providing an overview of work being completed in this area
at the University of New South Wales. With an emphasis on correct implementation of
boundary conditions, carefully validated and verified Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
solutions and laser-based measurement systems, insight is found into a range of automotive
aerodynamics problems. A discussion of the ground effect aerodynamics experimental facility
is given as an introduction to the first project, the interaction of a front race car wing and a
wheel. The near-wake flow properties of a Tyrell 026 wing are shown via Laser Doppler
Anemometry, CFD and laser sheet smoke flow visualization results, allowing clarification of
the wake structure as the ground is approached and the same flow visualization technique
allowed the lateral movement of wingtip vortices from an inverted NACA4412 wing to be
determined. The problem of adequate simulation for supersonic ground effect, when a moving
ground is not feasible, was also investigated using a supersonic, stationary ground wind
tunnel and two methods of ground specification. The mirror image method was shown to
provide a suitable representation of the ground surface for this case..
Keywords - ground effect, aerodynamics, automotive aerodynamics, Computational Fluid
Dynamics, Laser Doppler Anemometry