|
 Academic Year:
| 2013/4 |
| Owning Department/School:
| Department of Mechanical Engineering (administered by the Learning Partnerships Office) |
| Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Intermediate (FHEQ level 5) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 at Wiltshire College |
| Assessment:
| CW50OT50 |
| Supplementary Assessment: |
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| 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 and 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: * Improving own learning and performance (F,A) * Applying theory to practice (T, F, A) * Formulating outcomes (A) * Making and defending decisions (A) * Demonstrating appropriate critical thinking skills (T,F,A) * Gathering and processing technical information (A. Professional: * Facilitation and negotiation (A). * Development of an appropriately analytic approach (T,F) * Communicating professionally, using different formats (T, F, A) * Working in an independent and autonomous way (F, A) * Making choices within given constraints (F,A) * Written and verbal presentations (A) * Data interpretation (T,A) * Propose and specify engineering research (F) Practical: * Prioritising time and tasks (F) * Self organisation and management (F) * Planning appropriate support and monitoring progress (T, F) * Practical development of a wing section (T,A) * Use of simulation packages (T,A) Key: * Ability to apply theory into practice (T,F,A) * Problem solving skills (T,F,A) * Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (A) * Working effectively as a team and group (T,F) * 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. |
| Programme availability: |
LP20609 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Programmes administered by the Learning Partnerships Office
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