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AM-005 · UW Formula SAE · Analysis
Drag Reduction System Aerodynamics
CFD study of a multi-element rear wing for UW Formula Electric, quantifying how much drag an active DRS flap removes and what downforce it costs.
- Drag reduction
- 70.5%
- Cd
- 1.58 → 0.47
- Downforce trade-off
- 46%
01What
- Led aerodynamic modelling for UW Formula Electric to evaluate the advantage of a Drag Reduction System
- Modelled a multi-element rear wing within FIA rules for slot gap and angle of attack
02How
- Designed baseline and DRS-active configurations in SolidWorks from a high-lift NACA N6409 airfoil
- Added a trailing-edge gurney flap to model realistic rear-wing downforce
- Studied COMSOL Multiphysics parameters and examined velocity particle traces
- Ran incompressible, steady-state CFD comparisons in SimScale
- Derived simulation parameters from track data and regional fluid properties
03Results
- Cut the drag coefficient by 70.5%, from 1.58 to 0.47, at constant baseline area
- Quantified a 46% reduction in total simulated downforce
- Showed the open flap neutralizes pressure gradients and compresses the turbulent wake, raising top speed
Tools & methods
SolidWorksSimScaleCOMSOLCFD