This paper experimentally investigates the use of vortex generators for separation control on an inverted wing in ground effect using off-surface flow measurements and surface flow visualization. A typical racing car wing geometry is tested in a rolling road wind tunnel over a wide range of incidences and ride heights. Rectangular vane type of sub-boundary layer and large-scale vortex generators are attached to the suction surface, comprising counter-rotating and corotating configurations. The effects of both device height and spacing are examined. The counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generators and counter-rotating large-scale vortex generators suppress the flow separation at the center of each device pair, while the counter-rotating large-scale vortex generators induce horseshoe vortices between each device where the flow is separated. The corotating sub-boundary layer vortex generators tested here show little evidence of separation control. Increasing the spacing of the counter-rotating sublayer vortex generator induces significant horseshoe vortices, comparable to those seen in the counter-rotating large-scale vortex generator case. Wake surveys show significant spanwise variance behind the wing equipped with the counter-rotating large-scale vortex generators, while the counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generator configuration shows a relatively small variance in the spanwise direction. The flow characteristics revealed here suggest that counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generators can provide effective separation control for race car wings in ground effect.
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December 2009
Research Papers
Flow Physics of a Race Car Wing With Vortex Generators in Ground Effect
Yuichi Kuya,
Yuichi Kuya
School of Engineering Sciences,
e-mail: yuichi@soton.ac.uk
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK
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Kenji Takeda,
Kenji Takeda
Senior Lecturer
School of Engineering Sciences,
e-mail: ktakeda@soton.ac.uk
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK
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Xin Zhang,
Xin Zhang
Professor
School of Engineering Sciences,
e-mail: x.zhang1@soton.ac.uk
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK
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Scott Beeton,
Scott Beeton
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK
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Ted Pandaleon
Ted Pandaleon
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK
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Yuichi Kuya
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UKe-mail: yuichi@soton.ac.uk
Kenji Takeda
Senior Lecturer
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UKe-mail: ktakeda@soton.ac.uk
Xin Zhang
Professor
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UKe-mail: x.zhang1@soton.ac.uk
Scott Beeton
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UK
Ted Pandaleon
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton
, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, UKJ. Fluids Eng. Dec 2009, 131(12): 121103 (9 pages)
Published Online: November 19, 2009
Article history
Received:
March 20, 2009
Revised:
October 1, 2009
Online:
November 19, 2009
Published:
November 19, 2009
Citation
Kuya, Y., Takeda, K., Zhang, X., Beeton, S., and Pandaleon, T. (November 19, 2009). "Flow Physics of a Race Car Wing With Vortex Generators in Ground Effect." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. December 2009; 131(12): 121103. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000423
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