A computational study of the flow around an isolated wheel in contact with the ground

The flow around an isolated wheel in contact with the ground is computed by the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) method. Two cases are considered, a stationary wheel on a stationary ground and a rotating wheel on a moving ground. The computed wheel geometry is a detailed and accurate representation of the geometry used in the experiments of Fackrell and Harvey. The time-averaged computed flow is examined to reveal both new flow structures and new details of flow structures known from previous experiments. The mechanisms of formation of the flow structures are explained. A general schematic picture of the flow is presented. Surface pressures and pressure lift and drag forces are computed and compared to experimental results and show good agreement. The grid sensitivity of the computations is examined and shown to be small. The results have application to the design of road vehicles.