Numerical Investigation of the Flow Around a Simplified Wheel in a Wheelhouse

The flow around generic wheels in wheel housings used in previous experimental investigations is studied using large eddy simulations (LES). A comparison is given here of the results of the simulations with existing experimental data and previous results of RANS simulations. Both instantaneous and time-averaged flows are described, showing agreement with previous knowledge and adding new insight in flow physics. Two different widths of the wheel housing are used in the simulations, and their influence on the flows is studied. The present work shows that the width of the wheel housing has an influence on flows on both the inside and the outside of the wheelhouse.

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