Aerodynamics and multi-fidelity surrogate modelling of an inverted wing with vortex generators in ground effect

Abstract

A study of an inverted single-element wing with vortex denerators in ground effect is presented. Counter-rotating and co-rotating rectangular-vane type vortex generators with different device heights are studied on the suction surface of the wing. The primary application of this study is a front wing of race cars. This study comprises three main elements: 1) experimental study, 2) computational study and 3) multi-fidelity surrogate modelling.

An experimental testing is performed in a wind tunnel equipped with a moving belt rig, studying time-averaged and unsteady aerodynamic characteristics. The experimental work performed shows that a use of vortex generators, notably of the counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generator type, can be effective at controlling flow separation, with a resultant improvement in downforce within relatively low drag penalty. The results also reveal fundamental vortex characteristics for flow separation control.

A computational study is performed by three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes steady simulations with the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. The computations are validated against the experimental results so as to provide confidence, with the validation exhibiting close agreement with the experimental results. The computational results complement the experimental results by highlighting the flow physics of how vortex generators can help control flow separation on an inverted wing in ground effect and how critical vortex generator type and size are for its effectiveness. An application of a force-based vortex generator source term model is also examined.

A multi-fidelity surrogate modelling approach working with co-kriging regression and statistical techniques is presented, unsing the experimental and computational data sets. This approach exhibits an efficient improvement of surrogate models, compared to conventional surrogate models. Surrogate models of sectional downforce of an inverted wing with counter-rotating sub-boundary layer vortex generators in ground effect are constructed as a response of the ride height and incidence.

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