Abstract To date, little information has been published on the time-averaged wake of the estate variant of the DrivAer vehicle type. In recent years, this generic automobile geometry has been… Click to show full abstract
Abstract To date, little information has been published on the time-averaged wake of the estate variant of the DrivAer vehicle type. In recent years, this generic automobile geometry has been put forward as a more realistic alternative to investigate vehicle aerodynamics than considerably more idealised geometries, such as the Ahmed body. In this paper, the time-averaged wake is experimentally investigated through wind-tunnel tests. Velocities maps and profiles, drag-force measurements and base pressure distributions are used to characterise and quantify the flow behind and around the vehicle. In particular, the combination of wake-velocity and base-pressure measurements provide insight into the wake behind an estate vehicle. The results indicate the near wake and base-pressure distribution is dominated by up-wash caused by flow exiting the smooth underbody diffuser.
               
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