Wheel Cavity Airflow Splitter for Lower Drag and Brake Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The airflow around vehicle wheels becomes turbulent, causing increased drag and interference with aerodynamics, particularly at the front wheels, and designing brake cooling inlets that minimize turbulence is challenging.
Innovation Solution
An aerodynamic device with an aerodynamic body located in the wheel cavity, dividing incoming airflow into separate passages to guide it efficiently around the wheel, reducing turbulence and enhancing airflow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If airflow passes around the wheel, then the wheel can rotate freely, but the airflow becomes turbulent causing increased drag
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel cavity is segmented into multiple passages using aerodynamic bodies (dividers) that split the incoming airflow into separate streams. These dividers create organized flow paths around the wheel, preventing turbulent mixing while allowing free wheel rotation. The segmentation of airflow into distinct channels reduces drag by maintaining laminar flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Aerodynamic bodies serve as intermediary structures positioned between the wheel and wheel well. These intermediaries guide and shape the airflow, acting as mediators that transform chaotic turbulent flow into organized laminar flow patterns. The aerodynamic bodies redirect airflow smoothly around the wheel without direct contact with rotating components.
2Temperature
If brake cooling inlet is designed to cool brakes, then braking performance improves, but turbulence increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the wheel cavity are assigned different airflow functions through locally optimized aerodynamic bodies. Specific areas provide dedicated cooling passages to brake components while other regions maintain smooth flow paths. The aerodynamic structures create localized flow patterns that deliver cooling air to brake zones without disrupting the overall laminar flow regime, thus avoiding turbulence generation.
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 aerodynamic device minimizes turbulence behind the wheel, improving aerodynamic efficiency and reducing drag, while also guiding airflow for effective brake cooling.
Implementation Method 1
the airflow can become turbulent as passes rearwards of the wheel
Implementation Method 2
increase downforce through a pressure differential between the underside of the vehicle and the free flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is an aerodynamic device (200, 800) for guiding airflow around a wheel (201) of a vehicle (700), the device comprising: a wheel well (202) defining a wheel cavity (203) arranged to receive the wheel, the wheel cavity comprising an inlet (204) and an outlet (205), so that when the vehicle is in forward motion, incoming airflow (210) enters the wheel cavity at the inlet, moves through the wheel cavity, and exits the wheel cavity at the outlet; and an aerodynamic body (206) located in the wheel cavity and between the wheel well and the wheel, the aerodynamic body defining a first passage (208) between the aerodynamic body and the wheel well and a second passage (209) between the aerodynamic body and the wheel, so that when the incoming airflow moves through the wheel cavity, the incoming airflow is divided into a first airflow through the first passage and a second airflow through the second passage.