With the aim of better understanding the flow behaviour over the A-Pillar and to find the possible sources of the difference in drag between the Flat Plate and Car model, it was possible to use Fluent to provide visualisations of the flow over the A-Pillar region.
Figure 21 shows a Path Lines plot with ribbons being placed on the car and wing mirror surface.
Figure 21 - Pathlines Plot over whole car, 60mph
From this plot it is possible to identify that lateral flow occurs over the windshield and as a result it then passes over the A-Pillar. The flow over the A-Pillar is then accelerated onto the side of the car and onto the wing mirror, thus increasing the local velocity over the wing mirror. This increase in velocity may be accountable for the increased drag results when compared to the wing mirror on the Flat Plate. However the difference in drag is small and therefore the decreased accuracy of the car and wing mirror mesh may also contribute to the difference.
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