Large Eddy Simulation of the Flow Around a Diffuser-Equipped Bluff Body in Ground Effect

Unsteady Large Eddy Simulation (LES) is carried out for the flow around a bluff body equipped with an underbody rear diffuser in close proximity to the ground, representing an automotive diffuser. The goal is to demonstrate the ability of LES to model underbody vortical flow features at experimental Reynolds numbers (1.01 × 10⁶ based on model height and incoming velocity). The scope of the time-dependent simulations is not to improve on Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS), but to give further insight into vortex formation and progression, allowing better understanding of the flow, hence allowing more control. Vortical flow structures in the diffuser region, along the sides and top surface of the bluff body are successfully modelled. Differences between instantaneous and time-averaged flow structures are presented and explained. Comparisons to pressure measurements from wind tunnel experiments on an identical bluff body model shows a good level of agreement.