Open Access

ARTICLE

CFD Simulation of Passenger Car Aerodynamics and Body Parameter Optimization

Jichao Li, Xuexin Zhu, Cong Zhang, Shiwang Dang, Guang Chen^*

School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Jining University, Qufu, 273155, China

* Corresponding Author: Guang Chen. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Recent Advances in Computational Fluid Dynamics)

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2025, 21(9), 2305-2329. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2025.067087

Received 24 April 2025; Accepted 20 August 2025; Issue published 30 September 2025

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology and the increasing speed of vehicles have led to a substantial rise in energy consumption and growing concern over environmental pollution. Beyond the promotion of new energy vehicles, reducing aerodynamic drag remains a critical strategy for improving energy efficiency and lowering emissions. This study investigates the influence of key geometric parameters on the aerodynamic drag of vehicles. A parametric vehicle model was developed, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to analyse variations in the drag coefficient () and pressure distribution across different design configurations. The results reveal that the optimal aerodynamic performance—characterized by a minimized drag coefficient—is achieved with the following parameter settings: engine hood angle (α) of 15°, windshield angle (β) of 25°, rear window angle (γ) of 40°, rear upwards tail lift angle (θ) of 10°, ground clearance (d) of 100 mm, and side edge angle(s) of 5°. These findings offer valuable guidance for the aerodynamic optimization of vehicle body design and contribute to strategies aimed at energy conservation and emission reduction in the automotive sector.

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Keywords

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