[robinfisichella]

I am about to begin the aero design stage of a streamlined automotive body. I have specified all the internals, so know what the external geometric constraints are. I am develoing it using a CFD iterative process.

How would you approach the problem? I know solar racer designers typically select a 2d low drag profile, such as a NACA aerofoil and then develop this into a 3d shape.

This isnt really an adequete approach i feel, as low drag in 2d, does not mean low drag in 3d especially with the ground interaction.

It would be nice to take a mathematical defined 3d shape with known aerodynamic characteristics and develop this, but i dont think this sort of thing exists?

Would love to know how other people would approach a streamlined 3d vehicle design for aero...

[gocarts]

You might find a discussion on the f1technical.net forum useful - it documents the development of a small streamlined electric race car. Minimising drag is a key driver in the design of this car.

Full disclosure: Symscape is a sponsor of Horsfall racing - the team building the race car. For a CFD study I performed on the car see: http://www.symscape.com/examples/ran...ctric-race-car

[iilw1314]

it seems interesting and hard