Flow physics of a race car wing with vortex generators in ground effect

This paper experimentally investigates the use of vortex generators for separation control on an inverted wing in ground effect using off-surface flow measurements and surface flow visualization. A typical racing car wing geometry is tested in a rolling road wind tunnel over a wide range of incidences and ride heights. Rectangular vane type of sub-boundary layer and large-scale vortex generators are attached to the suction surface, comprising counter-rotating and corotating configurations. The effects of both device height and spacing are examined. The counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generators and counter-rotating large-scale vortex generators suppress the flow separation at the center of each device pair, while the counter-rotating large-scale vortex generators induce horseshoe vortices between each device where the flow is separated. The corotating sub-boundary layer vortex generators tested here show little evidence of separation control. Increasing the spacing of the counter-rotating sublayer vortex generator induces significant horseshoe vortices, comparable to those seen in the counter-rotating large-scale vortex generator case. Wake surveys show significant spanwise variance behind the wing equipped with the counter-rotating large-scale vortex generators, while the counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generator configuration shows a relatively small variance in the spanwise direction. The flow characteristics revealed here suggest that counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generators can provide effective separation control for race car wings in ground effect

[1]  Jonathan Zerihan,et al.  Off-Surface Aerodynamic Measurements of a Wing in Ground Effect , 2003 .

[2]  John Lin.  Control of turbulent boundary-layer separation using micro-vortex generators , 1999 .

[3]  Xin Zhang,et al.  Aerodynamics of Gurney flaps on a wing in ground effect , 2001 .

[4]  Joseph Katz,et al.  AERODYNAMICS OF RACE CARS , 2006 .

[5]  Michel Stanislas,et al.  Control of a decelerating boundary layer. Part 1: Optimization of passive vortex generators , 2006 .

[6]  Xin Zhang,et al.  Vortices behind a bluff body with an upswept aft section in ground effect , 2004 .

[7]  Philip A. Wilson,et al.  The influence of an upstream diffuser on a downstream wing in ground effect , 2008 .

[8]  Mohamed Gad-el-Hak,et al.  CONTROL OF LOW-SPEED AIRFOIL AERODYNAMICS , 1990 .

[9]  John C. Lin,et al.  Review of research on low-profile vortex generators to control boundary-layer separation , 2002 .

[10]  Xin Zhang,et al.  Ground Effect Aerodynamics of Race Cars , 2006 .

[11]  Mohamed Gad-el-Hak,et al.  Separation control - Review , 1991 .

[12]  Philip A. Wilson,et al.  Aerodynamics of a wing in ground effect in generic racing car wake flows , 2006 .

[13]  Xin Zhang,et al.  Aerodynamics of a single element wing in ground effect , 2000 .

[14]  Andreas Ruhrmann,et al.  Influence of diffuser angle on a bluff body in ground effect , 2003 .

[15]  Robert Ranzenbach,et al.  Multi-element airfoil in ground effect - An experimental and computational study , 1997 .

[16]  J. Lin,et al.  Exploratory study of vortex-generating devices for turbulent flow separation control , 1991 .

[17]  Joseph Katz,et al.  Effect of 90 Degree Flap on the Aerodynamics of a Two-Element Airfoil , 1989 .

[18]  J. Lin,et al.  Small submerged vortex generators for turbulent flow separation control , 1990 .

[19]  Andrew J. Chipperfield,et al.  Transient wing in ground effect aerodynamics: comparisons of static and dynamic testing , 2006 .

[20]  Xin Zhang,et al.  Edge vortices of a double element wing in ground effect , 2004 .

[21]  Yuichi Kuya,et al.  Flow Separation Control on a Race Car Wing With Vortex Generators in Ground Effect , 2009 .

[22]  D. M. Bushnell,et al.  Investigation of several passive and active methods for turbulent flow separation control , 1990 .

[23]  A. Gatto,et al.  Experimental investigation into wing span and angle-of-attack effects on sub-scale race car wing/wheel interaction aerodynamics , 2008 .

[24]  John K. Eaton,et al.  Experimental study of the development of longitudinal vortex pairs embedded in a turbulent boundary layer , 1987 .

[25]  Xin Zhang,et al.  The force and pressure of a diffuser-equipped bluff body in ground effect , 2001 .

[26]  R. P. Benedict,et al.  ASME Measurement Uncertainty , 1985 .

[27]  K. Burgin,et al.  Wind tunnel tests on road vehicle models using a moving belt simulation of ground effect , 1986 .