Design and CFD Analysis of Undertray Diffuser for Formula Student Car

Abstract

The deployment of aerodynamic kits in formula one cars significantly shown the performance of the cars in various aspects. This makes us to work and improve the aerodynamics of a formula student car. This report clearly outlines the design and optimization of undertray diffuser for formula student car. Formula one car reaches maximum top speed of 370 km/hr. but a formula student car reaches only a top speed of 120 km/hr. Due to the high speed of the formula one car, all aerodynamic kits such as front splitter, rear wing, diffuser are employed and work efficiently at that highspeed. Due to the low top speed of formula student car, the rear wing and other kits does not work efficiently. Among those kits, the undertray diffuser tends to work efficiently for a formula student car owing to its low top speed. So, for a formula student car, it is better to work on undertray diffuser. The diffuser acts as an expansion chamber to manage the air which exists underneath the car. It increases the pressure of low-pressure and fast-moving airstream back to the ambient atmospheric pressure at the exit of diffuser. Smoothing this transition reduces turbulence and drag in the car.