The process of analysing stand alone aerodynamic components, such as the intake, duct or winglets, in isolation has some merits. However, it is not until all of these components fit together, and the full vehicle is simulated, that we can understand how these components interact with each other aerodynamically. The full vehicle simulations required the use of approximately 65 million cells and were run using 60 processors of the PC cluster at the School of Engineering at Swansea University. With this level of computing power, a simulation could be performed in just over one day.

 

In addition to the computation of the variation in the lift and drag coefficients for the vehicle over the speed range, the aerodynamic behaviour of the vehicle needs to be understood, as a function of yaw, pitch and ride height. The slender shape of BLOODHOUND SSC was found to be relatively insensitive to pitch angle over the range of values that is likely to be experienced on the desert. This is an important property, as far as stability of the vehicle is concerned! The CFD results showed that the drag is insensitive to ride height, yet the lower ride height generates an increase in download over the vehicle. 

 

BLOODHOUND Design   Engine Intake Design   Wheel Design   Nose Design   Base Drag   Winglet Design   Vehicle Sensitivity Analysis