Use of the CFD for the analysis of the exhausts trajectory

Abstract

The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) provides an effective approach for the qualitative analysis of exhaust gas trajectories in high-performance vehicles under transient driving conditions. Complex flow interactions occurring during acceleration and braking phases require advanced numerical models capable of capturing unsteady effects on realistic geometries.

A CFD workflow based on automated mesh generation, unsteady simulations, and particle tracking techniques enables the investigation of exhaust plume behavior and its interaction with the vehicle underbody. The adoption of an Eulerian-Discrete Phase Model allows a reliable representation of exhaust dispersion while maintaining a balance between accuracy and computational cost, in line with industrial time constraints.

Large-scale simulations performed on HPC architectures support detailed time-dependent analyses using experimentally derived boundary conditions. The results provide valuable qualitative insight into critical flow regions potentially affecting cockpit comfort, supporting targeted experimental testing and local design modifications.