Learning Forum

[Enayaat Hussain]

Hi all, I'm conducting a study on aerodynamic drag reduction of a DrivAer estateback vehicle using a roof spoiler and a rear diffuser.

So far, I've imported the DrivAer model into Spaceclaim, successfully cleaned it up, meshed it and carried out a mesh independence test with all simulations done in Ansys Fluent (everything has been done via Workbench 2023 R2). I'm taking a Design of Experiment approach where I define three geometric parameters for the roof spoiler and study the effects on drag and downforce when these parameters are set at three different values each (giving a total of 9 different spoiler configurations), before going through a similar process for the rear diffuser.

I'd like to know, what is the quickest way to update the model for each iteration of the design without having to import everything into Spaceclaim, clean up the entire geometry and create the mesh again from scratch? I have saved files of the DrivAer geometry in Spaceclaim at three different stages if it helps: right after I'd defeatured the geometry, after I'd split it in half (I'm running half-body simulations using symmetry for time purposes), and after I'd used the interference tool to end up with the negative volume of the car inside the enclosure.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Federico]

Hi Enayaat, 

we have a tutorial on how do conduct such a parametric analysis via Workbench for Fluent: Chapter 2: Parametric Analysis in Ansys Workbench Using Ansys Fluent

The example creates the geometric parameters in DirectModeler but you can do the same in SpaceClaim: Driving Dimensions and Named Selections (ansys.com)

Finally, we have a course where we show how to do this entire within Discovery, looking at the rear wing of a formula car: Drag Reduction System - ANSYS Innovation Courses

[Enayaat Hussain]

Hi Federico,

Thanks for pointing out those tutorials. However, the spoiler and diffuser I will be simulating are separate CAD files - the Drag Reduction System tutorial is only useful once I am able to import those in. My question is, how do I import the CAD files for my spoiler and diffuser without having to create a new assembly and clean up the geometry again? Is there a way for me to import the spoiler/diffuser into my already clean half-body DrivAer Spaceclaim file?

[Federico]

From the clean half-body DrivAer SpaceClaim file, you can go to Assembly > Part > File and select the .scdoc file for your spoiler/diffuser.

[Enayaat Hussain]

Thanks Federico,

Once I've imported the new part, do I simply split the body in half and use the Interference tool to remove duplicate faces as I did with the DrivAer model? Will this then allow me to reapply my mesh settings and run the physics simulation without having to change anything else?