Dirt Late Model Simulator in CFD
By Perry Lee
Dirt track racing is a popular form of automotive racing in the United States. Dirt Late Model is a unique vehicle, with its inclined nose, flat doors, large spoiler, and open backs. Typical weight of a Dirt Late Model is a minimum of 2,300 lbs. These vehicles require a powerful engine that can produce over 800 horsepower that allows the vehicle to achieve high speeds. From the tight wheel arches to the angle and location of the rear spoiler to the different fender heights, every design component of this vehicle influences aerodynamics. Wind tunnel testing for this type of vehicle is difficult due to the extreme yaw (side slip angle) the cars experience while cornering. Without the constraints of the wind tunnel, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods are ideal for testing and understanding the aerodynamics of dirt racing cars.
