Vehicle Undercover Slopes and Openings for Airflow Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing undercover designs for vehicles fail to effectively separate airflow from the engine room from the main travel wind stream, leading to decreased Cl and Cd values due to uneven airflow distribution and interference, which affects vehicle stability and aerodynamics.
Innovation Solution
The undercover design includes a first slope that directs airflow vertically downward and openings on the rear side of the front wheels, combined with optional second slopes to manage airflow, creating a negative pressure zone that separates airflow streams and enhances airflow to the rear wheels, improving Cl and Cd values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air from the engine room is allowed to flow freely under the vehicle floor, then cooling of the engine room is improved, but the airflow distribution becomes uneven and interferes with the main travel wind stream, decreasing Cl and Cd values
Solution Approach 1:
The undercover is divided into multiple functional zones: a first region with a downward slope to guide main travel wind, a second region with openings to control engine room air outflow, and a third region to manage rear wheel airflow. This segmentation separates the airflow paths, allowing engine cooling while preventing harmful interference with the main airflow stream.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the undercover are designed with different properties: the first region has a downward slope for accelerating main airflow, the second region has openings for controlled ventilation, and the third region manages rear wheel airflow. Each region is optimized for its specific function to achieve overall aerodynamic performance.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the undercover is designed to guide main travel wind smoothly, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but engine room cooling may be insufficient without dedicated airflow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The undercover acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the main travel wind flow and the engine room cooling requirements. It uses the downward slope in the first region to accelerate main airflow while the openings in the second region allow controlled extraction of air from the engine room, balancing both aerodynamic performance and cooling needs.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If openings are added to the undercover for airflow management, then aerodynamic performance and cooling are improved, but the structural complexity of the undercover increases
Solution Approach 1:
The undercover is segmented into three functional regions with distinct characteristics, allowing each region to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity. The segmentation enables effective airflow management through geometric design rather than complex mechanical components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances vehicle stability by improving Cl value through negative pressure generation and reduces aerodynamic drag by optimizing airflow distribution, thereby enhancing both Cl and Cd values.
Implementation Method 1
creating a negative pressure zone that separates airflow streams and enhances airflow to the rear wheels
Implementation Method 2
separates airflow streams and enhances airflow to the rear wheels
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes an undercover that covers at least from a lower part of a grille to a rear end of a front wheel of a floor undersurface of a vehicle body. The undercover includes a first slope and an opening. The first slope slopes vertically downward from a front side toward a rear side of the vehicle. The opening is disposed on a rear side of the front wheel. A space for guiding air toward the rear side of the front wheel is provided between the undercover and a drive power mechanism that is mounted on a front part of the vehicle body.