Using Ansys Fluent to simulate the behaviors of an F1 in Schools car
Written by David Ioan Abrudan
Team Ford Celeritas Romania
Ford Celeritas is the second team to ever represent Romania in the competition and the very first from a public high school. As many other teams involved in the F1 in Schools competition did ,team Ford Celeritas opted for Ansys as their simulation software of choice. This year, at the Singapore World Finals, the team will take part in the competition for their second time.
Task Description
Great modern car designers by the likes of Pagani, Koenigsegg, Rimac and Hennessey started off by crafting a small-sized model of their visionary hypercars. This entire process, as well as the unique aerodynamics concepts employed, have led to the final product. Similarly, students all around the world use a set of regulations to build their own miniature race car powered by compressed air for the F1 in Schools competition. The pinnacle of their efforts are the World Finals, a thrilling event where top teams come together to race their cars, while simultaneously showcasing their remarkable engineering and enterprise skills.
Solution
Coming up with ingenious ways to gain a 100th, or even 1000th of a second that could win a race, is not all about intuition or creativity. One must assume that, without the aid of virtual simulations, it is nearly impossible to develop a highly efficient car design. And so it is in fact, at least at a high school level. Most questions, inquiries and perplexities regarding the car’s behavior on the track can be accurately answered using Ansys Fluent CFD simulation.
Having drafted a clear vision of what the first prototype is going to look like, the team proceeds to model it using a 3D CAD software. It is important to mention that the whole design is made abiding by the technical Regulations issued by the International Rules Committee.
After a number of iterations and design changes, a detailed strategy for machining in 3D CAM is the next sensible step.
Benefits
Ansys Fluent allows for precise modeling of real-world operating conditions, providing more accurate results and insights. Enabled accurate analysis of airflow around the F1 car, optimizing aerodynamic performance for better speed and stability.
By simulating various design iterations, engineers can fine-tune the car's components, leading to improved overall performance on the track. Virtual simulations reduce the need for physical prototypes, saving valuable resources and accelerating the design process.
Leveraging Ansys Fluent's advanced simulation capabilities gives teams a competitive advantage in developing a winning F1 in Schools car.