Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Author(s)
Advisor
Dr. Muhammad Shehryar
Associate Professor
Author(s)
Project Advisor:
Dr. Muhammad Shehryar
Associate Professor
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Abstract
The CFD analysis of multiple helmets available at the local market has been performed
on the ANSYS fluent. So, drag coefficient and the respective drag forces on them at
different air velocities can be calculated. The results later for the simulations being
experimentally. So, a level of conformity can be achieved. And once the validation
done. Experimental cost of wind tunnel and time can be saved. In the end after changing
the overall profile of the helmets and by making them close to the streamline shape, will
Keywords: Fluent flow, Lift and Drag Coefficient, Experimental testing, Numerical
analysis.
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UNDERTAKING
WE certify that final year project titled “Aerodynamic Modeling and Testing of Helmets”
is our own work. The work has not been presented elsewhere for assessment. Where
material has been used from other sources it has been properly acknowledged / referred.
15-ME-66 15-ME-88
15-ME-91 15-ME-99
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research would not have been possible without the academic and research support
received from University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila, Pakistan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Undertaking ......................................................................................................... iv
Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. v
Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... x
vi
3.6 Mesh Generation .................................................................................... 13
CONCLUSION.................................................................................................. 19
REFERENCES................................................................................................... 20
vii
LIST OF FIGURES
viii
LIST OF TABLES
ix
ABBREVIATIONS
x
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objective:
Reducing drag force acting on helmet will be area of interest. For this purpose, firstly drag
and lift coefficient of existing helmet models will be found both experimentally and
numerically. Numerically using ANSYS Fluent and experimentally by using Wind Tunnel
using a set of physical and mathematical techniques to solve the real time problems by
The case of our helmets is a typical analogy of a simple aerofoil which when placed
against a fluid experiences a drag which is similar to what is experienced by the helmets
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1.3 Aim:
The aim of project here is to first determine the drag being experienced by the available
helmet designs. Once the drag values will be obtained via ANSYS FLUENT. Results will
be validated via wind tunnel. Once approach will be certain then same approach will be
used in the calculation of drags on other helmets with some modified features including the
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CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Importance:
Literature review purpose is to put each work/research in the context of its contribution
Lot of work have already been done to study aerodynamic behavior of different helmets
and methods proposed of reducing drag acting on them. In the upcoming section we
2.2.1 Introduction:
Three-time trial helmets for cycling racing are numerically analyzed by using ANSYS
CFD on different head positions of two cyclists. This method is used to study pattern
2.2.2 Methodology:
Three different types of helmets were selected to analyze aerodynamic behavior, one
helmet was having two lines at its tail section and surface was smooth, second helmet
design was standard tear drop, while third one was semi-spherical to analyze its
behavior.
2.2.3 Results:
helmet is greatly affected. It is being observed at head down position, helmet 2 has
worst position because 6.4% frontal area is decreased as compared to head up position.
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2.3 Aerodynamic study of ribbed bicycle racing helmets:
2.3.1 Introduction:
Considerable efforts have been done to improve the aerodynamic behavior of bicycle
racing helmets over the time. Further manufacturers and designers are pushed for
improvement demand to innovate new designs. Outer shell dimples like Golf ball is
2.3.2 Methodology:
Wind tunnel apparatus is used for analyzing drag coefficient of 6 helmets, 4 of them
are time-trial and 2 are road cycling helmets. Out of these 4-time trial helmets, two are
provided with dimples on its outer shell to analyze. Frontal area of these 6 helmets are
shown in table.
Advantage 0.0686
Rocket 0.0748
Tardiz 0.0711
Vorticce 0.0723
Attack 0.0692
O2 0.0736
2.3.3 Results:
generates significant pressure drag. It is also observed that dimples provided on outer
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shell of Vorticce helmet, better aerodynamic performance is provided but due to large
2.4.1 Introduction:
Theoretical analysis has been done to observe drag and lift forces acting on bicycle
helmet with anti-glare visor. The back portion of rider neck is pressed by drag pressure
acting on helmet. Pro-E is used to design new helmet shape for analysis.
2.4.2 Methodology:
New streamlined aero foil shape of spherical helmet model is re-designed. Redesigned
model of the helmet while considering the aerodynamic behavior is represented below
in figure. Pointy edge is provided at the back surface of helmet so the flow of air
on it.
2.4.3 Results:
The results are indicated that streamline shape helmet is having low drag pressure as
compared to simple helmet. Pain in neck of rider for travelling is reduced by it. The
visor helmet portion is polymer coated and the refractive index is reduced.[3]
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2.5 Tail plates CFD simulation for drag reduction:
2.5.1 Introduction:
passenger car using tail plates. ANSYS-14.0. FLUENT is used for constructing test
vehicle which is the CFD solver and is being employed in the present work. Numerical
observed.
2.5.2 Methodology:
behavior is done on ANSYS FLUENT. Air flow if get complex over body becomes
turbulent and it will not be solvable. In this model k-epsilon turbulence model with
2.5.3 Results:
Tail plates are provided on the rear bumper and on the rear side roof on base line car
with 12 degrees inclination. Drag Coefficient is 0.3376 and 0.1926 is coefficient of lift.
METHODOLOGY
3.1 CAD MODELLING:
Dimensioning of helmet model was done by using Thermo-coil. By placing helmet on
thermos-coil, height, length and curvature radiuses were noted down with help of strings.
By taking reference plane same model was replicated on the cad software. Helmet was
made solid body so that air couldn’t pass through it. Later Simulation was performed on
ANSYS Fluent.
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Fig 6: Dimensions of Model 2
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3.2 Design of Models:
Total of 4 existing helmets design were selected from market and then it was being
It is area which resists fluid motion, its frontal area which is required in ANSYS
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Fig 11: Projected Areas
The first thing that must be taken into consideration is whether the flow is Laminar or
Turbulent.
In laminar flow, between two streamlines there is no transfer of mass and momentum. It
It is irregular flow in which fluid undergoes fluctuations; fluid speed is changing at every
moment.
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3.4 Selection Criteria for Steady or Transient State:
state simulation ignores time factors of higher order while transient state has all these
terms in simulation. Easy convergence criteria for steady state was obtained because there
Steady state simulation saves our time but that results cannot be taken into considerations
while making decisions as it do not involve time terms. Simulations in Transient state
Different zones are formed on the surface when layer of fluid strikes on helmet surface.
2. Buffer zone (fluid velocity is small but higher as compared to previous case, and flow
of fluid is linear)
3. Log low zone (less resistance as compared to above two cases, higher fluid velocity)
4. Free Stream Velocity (It is independent of bounding surface, where viscosity effect is
negligible)
So, a domain criterion was selected at which Free Stream Velocity zone could be
achieved, so we can study each characteristic of flow. Accurate results can be achieved
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Fig 13: Domain Criteria
Density 1.225kg/m3
Fluid Air
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3.6 Mesh Generation:
Fine meshes to achieve accurate results were created. To study each cell, structural
meshing on helmet were done. A Complex geometry was considered to select cut cell in
Smoothing High
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3.7 Setup Model:
In k-epsilon model, only log low region values were calculated and all other values were
assumed for viscous sub layer and buffer zone. As convergence rate was quite good in that
case so only low memory condition was required. It is only preferable when external flows
K-epsilon model was selected as exterior flow around complex geometry was to be studied.
In near-wall treatment, Non-Equilibrium Wall Function was selected because it was less
costly and consumed less time as compared to Enhanced Wall Treatment. So, it was more
suitable to use Non-Equilibrium Wall Function. However, if more accurate result was
In Enhanced-Wall Treatment, it calculated values of drag coefficient for all zones (viscous
sub layer, buffer zone and log-low zone) but in Non-Equilibrium only values for log-low
region was calculated and all other values were assumed. So, time was saved and memory
After setting the conditons, the simulation were run and following contours were achieved
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Fig 15: Velocity contours
Stagnation point is on the leading edge where the flow velocity is zero. On the upper
surface of the helmet the fluid accelerates while on the lower surface of the helmet the flow
velocity decreases. With the help of CFD (Fluent) successful analysis of the aerodynamic
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performance of the helmet has been carried out using K-epsilon turbulence model.
Simulation is performed at different fluid velocities their results are shown belo
Drag Force vs Cd
2.50E-01
2.00E-01
1.50E-01
Cd
1.00E-01
5.00E-02
0.00E+00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
Drag Force
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Drag Force vs Cd
2.50E-01
2.00E-01
1.50E-01
Cd
1.00E-01
5.00E-02
0.00E+00
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Drag Force
Drag Force vs Cd
9.00E-02
8.00E-02
7.00E-02
6.00E-02
Cd
5.00E-02
4.00E-02
3.00E-02
2.00E-02
1.00E-02
0.00E+00
0.00E+00 5.00E-02 1.00E-01 1.50E-01 2.00E-01 2.50E-01 3.00E-01
Drag Force
A wind tunnel test will be conducted now in next approach to validate the existing
simulation results that were obtained via ANSYS FLUENT and for that purpose, 3-D
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printing of our designs will be done after scaling them according to the testing area. Then
the values of drag will be cross-examined. The picture below is just a mere demonstration
Useful Formulae:
L
Coefficient of Lift, CL =
(0.5 ∗ ρ ∗ V 2∗ A)
D
Coefficient of Drag CD =
(0.5 ∗ ρ ∗ V 2 ∗ A)
PT − PW
Coefficient of Pressure, CP =
(0.5 ∗ ρ ∗ V 2 ∗ A)
Coefficient of drag, lift and pressure instead of their forces were measured due to the effect
that value of coefficient is not specified to any particular shape of the object rather it can be
Values of coefficient can be applied to wide range of conditions if the forces are measured.
Then air density and speed for each angle of attack will be calculated and more
cumbersome although the value of coefficient can be converted into the respective forces
by using formulae.
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CONCLUSION
It is concluded that drag force acting on the body depends on the sum of the factor.
Among them most important are velocity of fluid and frontal area, which opposes the air
flow past the body. It is being observed that at higher velocity helmet experiences higher
drag force when compared to low velocities. It is also observed that head position has
significant effect on drag produced. By varying head positions, frontal area is changed
which effects amount of drag experienced. Understanding developed that by changing the
profile of helmet close to a streamline, air flow past helmet model can be considered
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REFERENCES
3. Gandhi, V.S., et al., An Aerodynamic Design and Analysis of Motor Cycle Helmet
with Anti-Glare Visor. 2014. 8(3): p. 628-631.
4. Sharma, R., R.J.I.J.o.M. Bansal, and C. Engineering, CFD simulation for flow over
passenger car using tail plates for aerodynamic drag reduction. 2013. 7(5): p. 28-
35.
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminar_flow#/media/File:Laminar_flow_profile.gif
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