Abstract of
CHARACTERISATION OF THE FLOW FIELD IN A PASSENGER CAR
MODEL
A. Aroussi and S. Aghil
The University of Nottingham, School of Mechanical,
Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management
The need to improve the climatic comfort within passenger
vehicles is critical not only to passenger comfort but also to their safety. However,
to make progress in this area, a good understanding of the flow behaviour within
the vehicle is required. In this investigation, a one-fifth scaled Perspex model
of a passenger compartment was used to study and analyse the fluid flow characteristics
within the model. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD) were applied to determine the velocity field due to both windshield defrosters
and Instrument Panel (IP) registers. The results from both techniques were compared
at several vertical and horizontal planes to verify the integrity of the CFD model.
In general the numerical predictions compare well with the experimental measurements
made at various planes and operating conditions. The locations of maximum velocity
and pressure, as well as the characteristics of the re-circulation regions, are
correctly predicted.
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Diagnostics in Engineering, Volume 4, Part 1 Contents