CFD Analysis of Drag Reduction System (DRS) in Cars

The rear wing of a racing car plays a crucial role in generating down force, a key factor for achieving optimal turning speeds. High-speed vehicles, including Formula cars, incorporate various aerodynamic components such as spoilers, rear wings, splitters, and diffusers to enhance overall performance and top speed. However, these components often introduce significant aerodynamic drag. To mitigate the drag effect on straight sections of the track and enhance speed, the Drag Reduction System (DRS) is employed. The DRS implementation leads to a notable speed increase of 15 to 20%. This research focuses on conducting a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis specifically on NACA 2408, 2412, and 2415 airfoils. The objective is to assess the comprehensive aerodynamic impact on vehicle performance, comparing the three distinct airfoil designs (2408, 2412, and 2415). The study evaluates key parameters, including drag coefficient, lift velocity coefficient, contours, down force, and drag force. The findings reveal that the NACA 2415 airfoil outperforms the other two (2408 and 2412) based on the cl/cd (coefficient of lift to the coefficient of drag) ratio. This highlights the superior aerodynamic efficiency of the NACA 2415 airfoil, emphasizing its potential for enhancing overall vehicle performance compared to its counterparts.