Automotive Aerodynamics

Automotive Aerodynamics explores the crucial role of aerodynamics in vehicle design, focusing on how air interacts with cars to affect speed, fuel efficiency, and stability.
The book delves into fundamental principles like drag and lift, explaining how these forces impact vehicle performance.
Interestingly, even subtle design elements, such as spoilers and diffusers, can significantly reduce drag, leading to better fuel economy, with some vehicles optimized to achieve a drag coefficient as low as 0.25.
The book progresses through key sections, first examining the sources of drag and lift on a vehicle's body.
It then explores drag reduction methods and stability improvements using shaping and aerodynamic devices.
Finally, it analyzes the interaction between aerodynamics and other vehicle systems, such as cooling and ventilation.
Using data from wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, the book bridges theoretical concepts with practical engineering solutions, providing readers with the knowledge to improve vehicle performance.