Case Study: SAE International improves race car aerodynamics with Bramble CFD

SAE International - Customer Case Study

SAE International, a professional association for engineering professionals, used Bramble CFD to address the challenge of researching how tire deformation affects the aerodynamics of an open-wheel race car at high velocities. This was a complex challenge, as it is difficult to accurately measure the effects of acceleration at a corner exit in a traditional wind tunnel.

Using a full-vehicle steady-state CFD model, Bramble simulated three characteristic racing manoeuvres. The solution incorporated detailed tire deformation and kinematics. The results showed that tire deformation had an effect on car aerodynamics of up to 2.5% for the different manoeuvres, which Bramble's simulation calculated would affect the lap time by 0.22 seconds.

SAE International

J. Veh. Dyn

SAE International