Computational investigation into the influence of yaw on the aerodynamics of an isolated wheel in free air

Abstract

This paper details a computational investigation into the influence of yaw angle on the near and far-field aerodynamics of an isolated wheel in free air. Unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes was used as the primary analysis tool to analyse the complex flow features around this configuration, with principal vortical positions and magnitudes, overall lift, drag, and side force coefficients, as well as on-surface pressures characterised within the work presented. Fundamentally, the flow was found to be highly vortical in nature, particularly within the wake region of the wheel, with changes in yaw shown to have a significant impact on the surface flow, wake structure, as well as calculated force coefficients.

Determination of Required Torque to Spin Aircraft Wheel at Approach Using ANSYS CFX

“…The lift force varies directly as the wind speed, that is the higher the wind speed the higher the lift force developed. The air flow speed behind the wheel is approximately zero for all wind speeds, which is in agreement with [13].…”

“…The wheel rotation speeds were 100, 200, and 327 rad/sec. However, they conclude that the wake on rear of wheel increases with increased rotation speeds [13].…”

A study of the time-resolved structure of the vortices shed into the wake of an isolated F1 car wheel

“…Time resolved computations have also been directed at determining the transient nature of the wake, although obtaining meaningful solutions has proved to be a demanding task. Kothalawala et al (2013) computed the flow for a yawed wheel using URANS but omitted the ground in their simulations. However, in important studies by Croner et al (2013) and Axerio-Cilies and Iaccarino (2012), detailed time-resolved computational results are presented, which they compare with wind tunnel data they obtained using PIV.…”