Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
AS20263: Vehicle aerodynamics |
 Credits: |
5 |
| Level: |
Intermediate |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 2 at Wiltshire College |
| Assessment: |
CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites: |
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| Description: | Aims: The aims of this unit are to: * demonstrate a sound working knowledge of a range of theoretical and practical elements involved in vehicle aerodynamics; * demonstrate the value of data gathering, processing and interpretation skills to record aerodynamic performance; * utilise a range of methods to record aerodynamic performance. Learning Outcomes: At the end of this unit students should be able to: * understand the fundamental principles of motorsport aerodynamics and apply these concepts to a range of motorsport disciplines; * describe the importance of conducting tests using a wind tunnel; * operate an aerodynamic simulation package; * assess the use of aerodynamics to optimise cooling airflow in competition vehicles; * have a basic knowledge of the principles of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and their application to the requirements of the motorsport industry; * demonstrate the ability to solve problems by the use of a commercial CFD package. Skills: During the unit students should gain the following skills: Intellectual: * gathering and processing technical information (A. * formulating outcomes (A) * making and defending decisions (A) Professional: * written and verbal presentations (A) * data interpretation (T,A) * propose and specify engineering research (F) Practical: * practical development of a wing section (T,A) * use of simulation packages (T,A) Key: * writing reports (A) * applying numerical techniques (T,A) Content: This unit concentrates on: * scale modelling techniques (styling and wind tunnel) * CFD (Computational Flow Dynamics) * laminar flow * turbulence and turbulent flow * boundary layer * transition and separation point * wind tunnel operation * chord line * incidence * centre of pressure * lift and drag * pitching moment * aerodynamic centre * circulation * skin friction * profile and induced drag * form, vortex and wave drag * application of Bernoulli's Theorem * Reynolds Number, Froude Number. |