Formula SAE aerodynamic optimization

181 Pages·2016·8.05 MB·English

by  Lukáš Fryšták

BRNO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
VYSOKÉ UČENÍ TECHNICKÉ V BRNĚ
FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
FAKULTA STROJNÍHO INŽENÝRSTVÍ
INSTITUTE OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
LETECKÝ ÚSTAV
FORMULA SAE AERODYNAMIC OPTIMIZATION
AERODYNAMICKÁ OPTIMALIZACE MONOPOSTU FORMULE SAE
MASTER'S THESIS
DIPLOMOVÁ PRÁCE
AUTHOR Bc. Lukáš Fryšták
AUTOR PRÁCE
SUPERVISOR Ing. Robert Popela, Ph.D.
VEDOUCÍ PRÁCE
BRNO 2016

Master's Thesis Assignment
Institut: Institute of Aerospace Engineering
Student: Be. Lukas Frystak
Degree programm Mechanical Engineering
Branch: Aircraft Design
Supervisor: Ing. Robert Popela, Ph.D.
Academic year: 2015/16
As provided for by the Act No. 111/98 Coll. on higher education institutions and the BUT Study and
Examination Regulations, the director of the Institute hereby assigns the following topic of Master's
Thesis:
Formula SAE aerodynamic optimization
Brief description:
Performance of racing car is strongly determined by its aerodynamic characteristics. Aerodynamic
optimization is currently integral part of design of racing cars. TU Brno Racing team is for years
developing Formula Student cup vehicle. For further development there is necessary to perform testing
and aerodynamic optimization of car.
Master's Thesis goals:
Determine the basic aerodynamic characteristics of monopost in its current configuration. Perform
analysis, and identify gaps and determine areas for improvement in aerodynamic characteristics
(increase downforce, optimal distribution of downforce, reduce drag). Optimization by sophisticated
method using either the experimental or computational monopost model.
Bibliography:
Hucho, W. H.: Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles, ISBN: 978-0-7506-1267-8.
Barlow, J. B., Rae, W. H., Pope, A.: Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing, ISBN: 978-0-471-55774-6.
Katz, J.: Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed (Engineering and Performance), ISBN-13:
978-0837601427.
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology / Technicka 2896/2 / 616 69 / Brno
Students are required to submit the thesis within the deadlines stated in the schedule of the academic
year 2015/16.
In Brno, 30. 11. 2015
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology / Technicka 2896/2 / 616 69 / Brno
ABSTRACT
This work focuses on wind tunnel testing of a 25% scale model of a Formula SAE race
car. In the first part, Formula SAE is introduced and role of aerodynamics within this
competition is described. That is followed by review of the theoretical background that
is relevant to the presented experiment. In the second part, the experiment itself is
described and results presented. As part of this work, a six component strain gauge
force balance was designed, manufactured, and calibrated. Wind tunnel testing was
done in four different configurations to determine the influence of inverted wings and
floor with diffuser on aerodynamic performance of the car.
KEYWORDS
Formula SAE, Formula Student, Wind tunnel, aerodynamics, force balance
ABSTRAKT
Tato práce se zabývá měřením aerodynamických charakteristik modelu závodního vozu
FormulaSAEvaerodynamickémtunelu,vměřítku1:4. Vprvníčástijepředstavenprojekt
Formula SAE a popsána role aerodynamiky v rámci této soutěže. Následuje přehled
teoretického pozadí, které je relevantní k provedenému experimentu. Ve druhé části
práce je popsán samotný experiment a prezentovány jeho výsledky. Součástí je návrh,
výroba a kalibrace šestikomponentní tenzometrické váhy pro měření aerodynamického
zatížení. Testy v aerodynamickém tunelu byly provedeny ve čtyřech konfiguracích, aby
bylo možné určit vliv přítlačných křídel a podlahy s difuzorem na výsledné aerodynamické
charakteristiky vozu.
KLÍČOVÁ SLOVA
Formula SAE, Formula Student, aerodynamický tunel, aerodynamika, tenzometrická
váha
FRYŠTÁK, Lukáš Formula SAE aerodynamic optimization: master’s thesis. Brno: Brno
University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Aerospace
Engineering, 2016. 181 p. Supervised by Ing. Robert Popela, PhD.

DECLARATION
I declare that I have written my master’s thesis on the theme of “Formula SAE aerody-
namic optimization” independently, under the guidance of the master’s thesis supervisor
and using the technical literature and other sources of information which are all quoted
in the thesis and detailed in the list of literature at the end of the thesis.
As the author of the master’s thesis I furthermore declare that, as regards the creation
of this master’s thesis, I have not infringed any copyright. In particular, I have not
unlawfully encroached on anyone’s personal and/or ownership rights and I am fully aware
of the consequences in the case of breaking Regulation S11 and the following of the
Copyright Act No121/2000 Sb., and of the rights related to intellectual property right
and changes in some Acts (Intellectual Property Act) and formulated in later regulations,
inclusive of the possible consequences resulting from the provisions of Criminal Act
No40/2009 Sb., Section 2, Head VI, Part 4.
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author’s signature

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express a huge thank you to everyone that helped me with this work.
Mainly, to my advisor, Ing. Robert Popela, PhD., whose help and guidance played an
elemental role in the successful completion of this thesis.
Největší poděkování však patří mé rodině, za neúnavnou podporu během celého studia.
Brno ............... ..................................
author’s signature