COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE SHAPE ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION FOR SUV BODY DESIGN TO ENHANCE FUEL EFFICIENCY

Abstract

This study aims to develop a framework for evaluating aerodynamic performance over the body of a vehicle and proposing solutions to improve its aerodynamic shape, thereby minimizing drag forces acting on the automobile. The research focuses on the body of the Toyota C-HR 2017 SUV model with a "clean" design (excluding wipers, panel gaps, air channels, side mirrors, etc.). Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in ANSYS Fluent, the study applies the SST k-ω turbulence model, a two-equation model designed to combine the strengths of the k-ω model in the near-wall boundary layer and the k-ε model in the far-field flow. The SST k-ω model provides high accuracy in simulating flow separation and vortex dynamics in the vehicle's rear region. The results indicate that the drag coefficient has decreased by 9.74%. Additionally, the vortex regions at the rear of the vehicle were significantly improved, contributing to the overall optimization of aerodynamic performance. This study provides practical insights and a systematic approach to aerodynamic optimization for SUV designs, aiming toward fuel efficiency and enhanced stability.