The force and pressure behavior of a generic diffuser in ground effect were investigated. The diffuser model is a bluff body with a rear diffuser at 17 deg to the horizontal, and side-plates. Measurements were conducted in a low speed wind tunnel equipped with a moving ground facility. Techniques employed were force balance, pressure taps, and surface flow visualization. The diffuser flow in ground effect was characterized by vortex flow and three-dimensional flow separation. Four types of force behavior were observed: (a) down-force enhancement at high ride heights characterized by an attached symmetric diffuser flow, (b) maximum down-force at moderate ride heights characterized by a symmetric diffuser flow and separation on the diffuser ramp surface, (c) down-force reduction at low ride heights characterized by an asymmetric diffuser flow and flow separation, and (d) low down-force at very low ride heights, also characterized by an asymmetric diffuser flow and flow separation. The down-force reduction near the ground is attributed to flow separation at the diffuser inlet and subsequent loss of suction in the first half of the diffuser.
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March 2001
Technical Papers
The Force and Pressure of a Diffuser-Equipped Bluff Body in Ground Effect
Andrea E. Senior, Ph.D student,
Andrea E. Senior, Ph.D student
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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Xin Zhang, Professor in Aerodynamics
Xin Zhang, Professor in Aerodynamics
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Search for other works by this author on:
Andrea E. Senior, Ph.D student
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Xin Zhang, Professor in Aerodynamics
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the Fluids Engineering Division April 27, 2000; revised manuscript received October 3, 2000. Associate Editor: K. Zaman.
J. Fluids Eng. Mar 2001, 123(1): 105-111 (7 pages)
Published Online: October 3, 2000
Article history
Received:
April 27, 2000
Revised:
October 3, 2000
Citation
Senior, A. E., and Zhang, X. (October 3, 2000). "The Force and Pressure of a Diffuser-Equipped Bluff Body in Ground Effect ." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. March 2001; 123(1): 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1340637
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