The Stanford Solar Car Project’s Race for Aerodynamic Efficiency

Academic, Aerodynamics, Automotive, Case Studies, Tecplot 360 June 7, 2016

Chasing the sun 3000km across the Australian Outback is a grueling test. And doing it in a solar-powered vehicle is an even bigger challenge. But every two years teams from around the world converge on Darwin, Australia, to make the journey to Adelaide in the solar-powered cars they have engineered specifically for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. The Stanford Solar Car Project, a student-run, nonprofit organization within Stanford University, has […]

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CFD Simulation Analysis Times Reduced

Aerodynamics, Automotive, Case Studies, Chorus January 13, 2015

Case Study: Tecplot Chorus integrates with KARALIT CFD to save time with mesh-free CFD simulations and analyses The Immersed Boundary (IB) methodology, a mesh-free technique for running CFD simulations, has been around since the 1970s. Instead of running Navier-Stokes equations on grids that conform to the shape of an object, as is done with meshing, the IB technique immerses a CAD model of the object into a Cartesian grid and […]

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Building One of the World’s Most Efficient Electric Cars

Academic, Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, Automotive, Case Studies, Environmental, Tecplot 360 October 23, 2014

Tecplot 360 helps Stanford University students optimize design of solar-powered car to compete in the Australian Outback’s World Solar Challenge The sun shines down upon the immense Australian Outback like nowhere else, drenching the land in solar energy that begs to be tapped. Where better to stage the World Solar Challenge, a design competition established to find the world’s most efficient solar-electric car? Every two years, some of the brightest […]

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Bringing More Excitement to Auto Racing with Mushroom-Busting Designs

Automotive, Case Studies, Chorus April 2, 2013

Tecplot Chorus Helps Swift Engineering Inc. Change Mushroom-shaped Wakes on Formula Race Cars to Make Passing Easier and Auto Racing More Exciting The race does not always go to the swift, especially when it’s Formula auto racing, where the wake of a race car can be turbulent enough to prevent others from passing it, no matter how fast they’re going. “That can make it pretty boring to watch, as well,” […]

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Toyota Motorsport wind tunnel helps automotive engineers design faster high-performance cars with sophisticated built-in PIV system

Automotive, Case Studies, Tecplot Focus February 2, 2010

        February 2011 Tecplot software provides critical CFD visualization component in cutting-edge technology The blink of an eye may mean nothing to most people, but in the high-pressure, high-stakes world of auto racing, it can be the difference between winning and losing. Glance at the results of almost any Formula One race and you’ll see that the top three cars usually finish within a few tenths of […]

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Plotting to Win the America’s Cup: Flow Dynamics of Racing Yachts

Automotive, Case Studies, Tecplot 360 August 25, 2008

Contributed by Bruce Rosen Bay Simulations, Inc. The America’s Cup is the world’s oldest sporting trophy. Big, technology-laden racing yachts representing yacht clubs from countries around the world compete for the right to hold and defend this ornate piece of silver. Since 1992, the “IACC rule” has governed the size and other general characteristics of the roughly 70-foot yachts. Now a proposed 90-foot rule would give the naval architects more […]

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Plotting a Course to America’s Cup victory

Automotive, Case Studies, Tecplot 360 May 1, 2006

Contributed by Jonathan Binns BMW Oracle Racing The Researchers The design team members of BMW Oracle Racing share a common, single goal: to design the International Americas Cup Class (IACC) yacht that will win the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007. The history of yacht design involves the use of leading-edge technology in all fields; much of which has traditionally been outsourced. BMW Oracle Racing has, however, taken a very different […]

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Plot of the month: External truck aerodynamics

Automotive, Case Studies, Energy, Environmental, Tecplot 360 November 14, 2001

Contributed by Dr. Ilhan Bayraktar Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA External truck aerodynamics animation Models such as this will lead to modifications that increase fuel efficiency by minimizing drag force. Reducing drag force will also lessen environmental pollution and improve stability and vehicle control. Dr. Ilhan Bayraktar is a Ph.D. Candidate at Old Dominion University’s Aerospace Engineering Department. His primary research interest is numerical simulation of complex, large-scale flow problems […]

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