Call for papers: "Ground Vehicles: Aerodynamics, Thermal Modelling, Design and Optimisation"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Aerodynamics.

In the transport and automotive industry, aerodynamic improvements are highly desirable in the design of fuel-efficient vehicles. Over the last two decades, continuous efforts to build aerodynamic designs by modifying external vehicle surfaces and through add-on aerodynamic drag reduction devices are growing rapidly.

In transport vehicles, external airflows are highly inhomogeneous and can have a positive or even negative impact on aerodynamics and thermal management, depending on the vehicle position and influence of vehicle traffic. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling offers an excellent alternative to experiments in modelling and designing aerodynamic and stylish vehicles.

However, prototype experimental observations are inevitable in developing high-fidelity numerical models and in verifying numerical results. Today’s high-performance computing allows the building of very robust aerodynamic and fuel-efficient vehicles with minimal amounts of time and cost. This special issue invites articles on the latest developments in aerodynamics and thermal management.

Aerodynamic and thermal applications in automotive, transportation and sports contexts share a common approach to modelling, design and optimisation. This special issue will focus on experimental aerodynamic and thermal modelling of vehicles. The use of any advanced numerical tools and various types of commercial, open source and in-house software (Ansys®, StarCCM+®, Exa®, OpenFOAM®, etc.) is welcome in the research submitted to the issue.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Automotive applications (low-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, agricultural vehicles, etc.)
• Transport industry (on-road, railroad, etc.)
• Sports applications (bicycles, cars, etc.)
• Vehicle traffic/platooning influence on aerodynamics
• CFD modelling, design and optimisation
• Advancements in vehicle simulations (surface morphing, computational efficient algorithms, etc.)
• Wind-tunnel experiments and real-time aerodynamic drag and temperature monitoring
• Traffic and aerodynamic influence on vehicle thermal management
• Other aerodynamic applications (airfoils, etc.)

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 9 June, 2016