The Impact of Wheel Design on Aerodynamics

With the popularity of environmentally friendly policy and the development of electric vehicles, many engineers in the vehicle industry are trying to improve cars fuel efficiency. This study investigates the impact of wheel design on a vehicles aerodynamic. It uses the information provided by a computer model to analyze the flow around the wheel, such as how these flows form and their distribution around the wheels. According to these analyses, this paper finds that it is necessary to reduce the vortex systems and turbulence within the wheel cavity. Therefore, the author analyzes the fluid dynamic simulation of different rims designs, including the number of spokes, the opening area of rims, and the shape of rims. It finds that the wheel design can be enhanced by decreasing the opening area around the disc and enlarging the closed area at the top of the spokes. This approach aims to mitigate the impact of airflow and reduce aerodynamic drag.