Study Programmes 2016-2017
MECA0493-2  
Vehicle aerodynamics
Duration :
15h Th, 10h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in electrical engineering (120 ECTS)2
Master in electro-mechanical engineering (120 ECTS)2
Master in mechanical engineering (120 ECTS)2
Certificate in sustainable automotive engineering2
Lecturer :
Grigorios Dimitriadis
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
Aerodynamics plays a very important role in the design of modern road vehicles. There are four main considerations:
  • the detailed flowfield around the car,
  • the forces and moments applied by the wind on the car,
  • engine cooling and heating,
  • ventilation and noise
The most important objective of modern car aerodynamics is the improvement of fuel efficiency. The fuel efficiency is increased by decreasing the aerodynamic drag acting on the car, especially at high speeds. Additional considerations concern turning performance and stability under crosswind. 
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
The aim of this course is to introduce students to some basic aspects of the subject of vehicle aerodynamics. The detailed objectives are:
  • Introduction to the aerodynamic design of road vehicles
  • Design tools: wind tunnel and simulation
  • History of car aerodynamics
  • Performance and stability
  • Aerodynamics of race cars
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
MECA0025-1 Fluid Mechanics
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
This is a first semester course. It is divided into 4 lectures and two wind tunnel laboratory sessions.   Wind tunnel experiments on:
  • Aerodynamics of a sports car  
  • Aerodynamic loads on a wing
The participation in the wind tunnel laboratory is mandatory.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face in English
Recommended or required readings :
The lecture notes are available online in the form of Powerpoint presentations. Recommended textbooks:
  • Aerodynamics for Road Vehicles, Edited by Wolf-Heinrich Hucho, 4th Edition, SAE International, Warrendale, PA.
  • Race car aerodynamics - Designing for speed, J. Katz, Bentley Publishers, Cambridge, MA
Assessment methods and criteria :
The assessment is based on:
  • the laboratory report (50%)
  • the innovation project conducted during the automotive sustainable engineering Master (50%)
Work placement(s) :
N/A
Organizational remarks :
The participation in the laboratory is mandatory.
Contacts :
Lecturer: Prof. V. Terrapon MTFC research group Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Quartier Polytech 1  Allée de la Découverte 9 B52/3, 0/415 Tel: +32 (0)4 3669268 Email: vincent.terrapon@ulg.ac.be Dr. T. Andrianne Wind tunnel Quartier Polytech 1 Allée de la Découverte 13D B52/9 Tel: +32 (0)4 3669336 Email: t.andrianne@ulg.ac.be