How do you compare vehicle designs with wind tunnel testing?

1 Choose a suitable wind tunnel

Not all wind tunnels are the same. Depending on the size, shape, and speed of your vehicle design, you need to select a wind tunnel that can accommodate and replicate the relevant conditions. For example, if you are designing a high-performance sports car, you need a wind tunnel that can generate high-speed and turbulent airflow, as well as a moving ground and rotating wheels to mimic the road interaction. On the other hand, if you are designing a low-speed and lightweight vehicle, you might prefer a wind tunnel that can produce laminar and steady airflow, and has a fixed ground and stationary wheels.

2 Prepare your models and sensors

Before you conduct the wind tunnel testing, you need to prepare your models and sensors. You can use either scaled or full-size models, depending on the availability and capacity of the wind tunnel. However, you need to ensure that your models are accurate and realistic representations of your vehicle designs, with the same geometry, surface texture, and material properties. You also need to attach sensors and instruments to your models, such as pressure taps, force balances, thermocouples, and flow visualization devices, to collect data on the airflow and heat transfer around them.

3 Set up your test conditions and parameters

Next, you need to set up your test conditions and parameters. You need to decide what variables you want to control and vary during the wind tunnel testing, such as the wind speed, the angle of attack, the yaw angle, and the model configuration. You also need to define what parameters you want to measure and compare, such as the drag coefficient, the lift coefficient, the downforce, the cooling efficiency, and the fuel consumption. You need to ensure that your test conditions and parameters are consistent and relevant for your vehicle designs and their intended applications.

4 Run your tests and collect your data

Now, you are ready to run your tests and collect your data. You need to follow a systematic and rigorous procedure to ensure the reliability and validity of your results. You need to run multiple tests for each variable and parameter, and record the data from your sensors and instruments. You need to check for any errors or anomalies in your data, and correct them if possible. You also need to calibrate and normalize your data, especially if you are using scaled models, to account for any scaling effects or wind tunnel interference.

5 Analyze your data and compare your designs

Finally, you need to analyze your data and compare your designs. You need to use appropriate statistical and graphical methods to process and present your data, such as tables, charts, graphs, and equations. You need to identify and explain the trends, patterns, and relationships in your data, and how they relate to the aerodynamics and thermodynamics of your vehicle designs. You need to compare and contrast the performance of your designs, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. You need to draw conclusions and recommendations based on your analysis, and suggest possible improvements or modifications for your designs.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?