The field of automotive design and development is constantly evolving, embracing the latest technologies and best practices. This dynamic environment extends its influence beyond automotive into the realm of motorsport.
TotalSim, an Ohio-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) consultant, is utilising technological advancements across industries, especially with respect to aerodynamics and racing.
‘Aerodynamics now plays a role from the top of the motorsports food chain with NASCAR and F1 down to grassroots racing,’ says TotalSim president Ray Leto.
‘There’s been an explosion of information in the past few years that’s allowed these technologies to not be exclusively for top level racing. This has enhanced not only the importance of doing aerodynamics, but the power of doing it well.’ Both physical testing on-track and wind tunnel testing are commonly used to analyse aerodynamics. While still recognising the importance of these techniques and incorporating them, TotalSim believes it has found the perfect recipe for quicker aerodynamic testing at a cheaper cost.
The magic ingredient" CFD. Computational fluid dynamics is a branch of fluid mechanics that employs numerical analysis to predict fluid flow digitally.
Advances in computing power have made CFD a valuable complement to physical testing and, in some instances, a replacement. CFD enables engineers to anticipate fluid flow, heat transfer, mass transfer, chemical reactions, and ...