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Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich

Automobile Aerodynamics

Research Focus               Team                            Publications

Automotive Aerodynamics

Automotive aerodynamics studies the aerodynamic optimization of motor vehicles. Besides con- ventional cars, trucks, racing cars, and recently more and more vehicles with alternative types of propulsion, for instance electric vehicles, are the focus of the aerodynamic and thermodynamic investigations. 

Electric vehicles pose new challenges for automotive aerodynamics in the area of shaping, and the development of new cooling concepts. To investigate the aerodynamic requirements of electric vehicles, the Institute of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics participates in cooperation project MUTE.

Besides the design of a vehicle, aerodynamics also influence the efficiency, the functionality (amongst others the cooling of different components in a vehicle), as well as the driving dynamics and the driving stability of a vehicle decisively. 

Especially transient phenomena like crosswind gusts overtaking maneuvres are of special interest. The aerodynamic optimization process is realized by CFD simulations and experimental investigations in the wind tunnel.

The automotive aerodynamics work group at the Institute mostly uses the open source software OpenFOAMᴿ for numerical investigations. Besides a great number of already implemented functions, OpenFOAMᴿ offers the possibility to adapt the code to address vehicle specific fluid dynamical problems.  

In experimental vehicle aerodynamics it is important to simulate the relative movement between the vehicle and the road to obtain accurate results. Therefore a moving belt system has been installed in the wind tunnel A of the Institute of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics.  

To efficiently carry out the optimization of production vehicles it is essential to understand the underlying aerodynamic phenomena. 

For this purpose strongly simplified models such as the Ahmed body or the SAE body are often used. Whereas these simple car models help to understand the fundamental flow phenomena, their shapes are very different from actual car geometries. Therefore the results will not be fully transferable to the development of production vehicles. This is especially true where complex body surfaces are involved, such as the A-pillars, the highly curved rear end, and the wheelhouse region.

To close the gap between production vehicles and strongly simplified models the automotive aerodynamics group introduces a new generic vehicle model – the DrivAer body.

Contact Person and Team

Contact Person and Team Leader:

PD Dr.-Ing. habil. Thomas Indinger
Room:         1635
Telephone: +49.89.289.16135
E-Mail:        thomas.indinger@tum.de

Team:

Former Team Members:

  • Dipl.-Ing. Dirk Bäder
  • M. Sc. Alexandra Pachalieva
  • Dr. -Ing Christopher Collin
  • Dr.-Ing. Lukas Haag
  • M. Sc. Lu Miao
  • Dipl.-Ing. Angelina Heft
  • Dipl.-Ing. Beat Heinzelmann
  • Dipl.-Ing. Simon Huber
  • Dr. -Ing Marco Kiewat
  • Dipl.-Ing. Steffen Mack
  • M. Sc. Patrick Nathen
  • M. Sc. Martin Peichl
  • Dipl.-Ing. Bastian Schnepf
  • Dipl.-Ing. Gregor Tesch
  • Dipl.-Ing. Pascal Theissen
  • Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Wojciak
  • M. Sc. Daiki Matsumoto
  • M. Sc. Jan Reiß
  • M.Eng. Jonas Sebald

Publications

2024

Journal Articles

  • Schlichter, Philipp; Reck, Michaela; Pieringer, Jutta; Indinger, Thomas: Surrogate model benchmark for kω-SST RANS turbulence closure coefficients. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 246, 2024, 105678 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

2023

Journal Articles

  • Reck, Michaela; Hilhorst, René; Hilbert, Marc; Indinger, Thomas: Race Car Flow Field Analysis using Autoencoders and Clustering. International Journal of Automotive Engineering 14 (2), 2023, 35-42 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

Conference Papers

  • Philipp Schlichter, Michaela Reck, Jutta Pieringer, Thomas Indinger: Benchmark of Aerodynamic Surrogate Models on Varying Training Datasets. 2023 JSAE Annual Congress (Spring), 2023 more… BibTeX
  • Reck, Michaela; Hilbert, Marc; Hilhorst, René; Indinger, Thomas: Comparison of Deep Learning Architectures for Dimensionality Reduction of 3D Flow Fields of a Racing Car. SAE Technical Paper Series, SAE International, 2023 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

2021

Conference Papers

  • Sebald, Jonas; Reiss, Jan; Kiewat, Marco; Indinger, Thomas: Experimental and Numerical Investigations on Time-Resolved Flow Field Data of a Full-Scale Open-Jet Automotive Wind Tunnel. SAE Technical Paper Series, SAE International, 2021 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

2020

Journal Articles

  • Sebald, Jonas; Reiß, Jan; Kiewat, Marco; Indinger, Thomas: Comparison of Time-Resolved Experimental and Numerical Data in the Wake of a Full-Scale Passenger Car. International Journal of Automotive Engineering 11 (4), 2020, 185-192 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

Conference Papers

  • Reiß, Jan; Sebald, Jonas; Haag, Lukas; Zander, Vincent; Indinger, Thomas: Experimental and Numerical Investigations on Isolated, Treaded and Rotating Car Wheels. SAE Technical Paper Series, SAE International, 2020 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

2019

Journal Articles

  • Aleksandra Pachalieva, Christoph A. Niedermeier, Thomas Indinger: Massively Parallel GPU Implementation of the Lattice-Boltzmann Method for the Simulation of Coupled Aero-Thermodynamic Systems. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (2019 Volume 10 Issue 1 ), 2019, Pages 125-132 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Parsa, M. Reza; Pachalieva, Aleksandra; Wagner, Alexander J.: Validity of the molecular-dynamics-lattice-gas global equilibrium distribution function. International Journal of Modern Physics C, 2019, 1941007 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Reiß, Jan; Haag, Lukas; Indinger, Thomas: CFD investigation on fully detailed and deformed car tires. International Journal of Automotive Engineering 10 (4), 2019, 324-331 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

Conference Papers

  • Matsumoto, Daiki; Nakae, Yusuke; Niedermeier, Christoph; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Indinger, Thomas: Application of Dynamic Mode Decomposition to Influence the Driving Stability of Road Vehicles. SAE Technical Paper Series, SAE International, 2019 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

2018

Journal Articles

  • Kiewat, M. , Matsumoto,D.; Haag,L.; Zander,V.; Indinger, T.: Online Dynamic Mode Decomposition Methods for the Investigation of Unsteady Aerodynamics of the DrivAer Model (Second Report): Application on Velocity Fields. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (Vol. 9, Issue 2), 2018, pp. 72-78 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Matsumoto,D.; Kiewat,M.; Haag,L.; Indinger, T.: Online Dynamic Mode Decomposition Methods for the Investigation of Unsteady Aerodynamics of the DrivAer Model (First Report): Validation of DMD Methods for Surface Forces. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (Vol. 9, Issue 2), 2018, pp. 64-71 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

Conference Papers

  • PACHALIEVA Aleksandra, NIEDERMEIER Christoph, INDINGER Thomas: Numerical Simulation of Coupled Aero-Thermodynamic Systems based on the Lattice-Boltzmann Method. 2018 JSAE Annual Congress Congress (Spring), 2018 more… BibTeX

2017

Journal Articles

  • Collin, C.; Indinger, T.; Müller, J.: Moving Ground Simulation for High Performance Race Cars in an Automotive Wind Tunnel. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (JSAE) (Vol. 8), 2017, pp. 15-21 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Haag, L.; Blacha, T.; Indinger, T.: Experimental Investigation on the Aerodynamics of Isolated rotating Wheels and Evaluation of Wheel rotation Models Using Unsteady CFD. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (JSAE) (Vol. 8, No. 1), 2017, pp. 7-14 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Matsumoto, D.; Haag, L.; Indinger, T.: Investigation of the Unsteady External and Underhood Airflow of the DrivAer model by Dynamic Mode Decomposition Methods. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (JSAE) (Vol. 8, No. 2), 2017, pp. 55-62 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

Conference Papers

  • Haag, L., Kiewat, M., Indinger, T., Blacha, T.: Numerical and experimental investigations of rotating wheel aerodynamics on the DrivAer model with engine bay flow. ASME 2017 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting, FEDSM 2017, 2017Waikoloa; United States; 30 July 2017 through 3 August 2017; Code 131290 more… BibTeX
  • Kiewat, M.; Haag, L.; Indinger, T.; Zander, V.: Low-memory reduced-order modelling with dynamic mode decomposition applied on unsteady wheel aerodynamics. ASME 2017 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting, FEDSM 2017; Waikoloa; United States; 30 July 2017 through 3 August 2017; Code 131290, 2017 more… BibTeX

2016

Journal Articles

  • Collin, C.; Mack, S.; Indinger, T.; Müller, J.: A Numerical and Experimental Evaluation of Open Jet Wind Tunnel Interferences using the DrivAer Reference Model. SAE International Journal Passenger Cars - Mech. Syst. (Vol. 9, No. 2), 2016, pp. 657-679 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

2015

Journal Articles

  • Frasquet, C. P.; Indinger, T.: Schwere Nutzfahrzeugkonfigurationen unter Einfluss realitätsnaher Anströmbedinungen. FAT-Schriftenreihe 281, 2015 more… BibTeX
  • Schnepf, B.; Schütz, T.; Indinger, T.: Further Investigations on the Flow Around a Rotating, Isolated Wheel with Detailed Tread Pattern. SAE International Journal Passenger Cars - Mech. Syst. (Vol. 8, No. 1), 2015, pp. 261-274 more… BibTeX
  • Schnepf, B.; Tesch, G.; Indinger, T.: On the Influence of Ride Height Changes on the Aerodynamic Performance of Wheel Designs. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (JSAE) (Vol. 6, No. 1), 2015, p.p. 23-29 more… BibTeX

Conference Papers

  • Miao, L.; Mack, S.; Indinger, T.: Experimental and numerical investiagtion of automotive aerodynamics using DrivAer model. International Conference on Advanced Vehicle Technologies [17th], 2015ASME International Design Engineering Technical conference & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference more… BibTeX

2014

Books / Contributions to Collections

  • Indinger, T.; Schnepf, B.: Unsteady CFD for Automotive Aerodynmics. In: Wagner, S.; Bode, A.; Satzger, H.; Brehm, M. (Ed.): High Performance Computing in Science and Engineering. Bonitasprint, 2014 more… BibTeX

Journal Articles

  • Huber, S.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.; Schuetz, T.: Experimental and Numerical Study of Heat Transfer at the Underbody of a Production Car. SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles 7 (1), 2014, Pages 89-101 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Schnepf, B.; Indinger, T.: Unsteeady CFD for Automotive Wheel Aerodynamics. inSIDE Autoumn (Vol. 12, No. 2), 2014 more… BibTeX

Conference Papers

  • Huber, S.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.A.; Jaroch, M.: Approach to an iteratively coupled thermal and aerodynamic design process for production cars. IMECHE - International Vehicle Aerodynmics Conference, 2014, pp. 115-124 more… BibTeX
  • Peichl, M.; Mack, S.; Indinger, T.; Decker, F.: Numerical Investiagtion of the Flow Around a Generic Car Using Dynamic Mode Decomposition. ASME Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting , 2014 more… BibTeX

Misc.

  • Peichl, M.; Indinger, T.: Modal Investigation of the Flow around a generic Car. 2014 more… BibTeX

2013

Journal Articles

  • Bäder, D.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.A.; Unterlechner, P.; Wickern, G.: Interference effects of cooling airflows on a generic car body. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 119, 2013, Pages 146-157 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Frasquet, C.P.; Indinger, T.: Numerische Untersuchungen zur Aerodynamik von Nutzfahrzeugkombinationen bei realitätsnahen Fahrbedingungen unter Seitenwindeinfluss. FAT-Schriftenreihe (260), 2013 more… BibTeX
  • Heft, A.I.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.A.: Document Systematic optimization of the cooling duct system of electric vehicles. AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference [31st.], 2013 more… BibTeX

Conference Papers

  • Heft, A.I.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.A.: Systematic optimization of the cooling duct system of electric vehicles. AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference [31st], 2013San Diego, CA; United States; 24. - 27. June more… BibTeX
  • Schnepf, B.; Tesch, G.; Indinger, T.: Investigations on the Flow Around Wheels Using Different road Simulation tools. Progress in Vehicle Aerodynamics and Thermal Management, 2013Proceedings of the 9th FKFS Conference more… BibTeX

2012

Journal Articles

  • Indinger, T.; Devesa, A.: Verbrauchsreduktion bie Nutzfahrzeug-Kombinationen durch aerodynamische Massnahmen. Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift (ATZ) (114), 2012, pp. 628-634 more… BibTeX
  • Wojciak, J.; Schnepf, B.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.: Study on the Capability of an Open Source CFD Software for Unsteady Vehicle Aerodynamics. SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicle (5 (1)), 2012, pp. 196-207 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

Conference Papers

  • Bäder, D.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N. A.; Unterlechner, P.:: Aerodynamic Investigation of Vehicle Cooling-Drag,. SAE 2012 World Congress,, 2012April 23-26, 2012, Detroit, Michigan, USA, Paper 2012-01-0170 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Devesa, A., Indinger, T.: Fuel Consumption Reduction by Geometry Variations on a Generic Tractor-Trailer Configuration. SAE 2012 World Congress,, 2012 more… BibTeX
  • Heft, A. I.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N. A.: Introduction of a New Realistic Generic Car Model for Aerodynamic Investigations. SAE 2012 World Congress, 2012 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Heft, A.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N. A.: Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the DrivAer Model. ASME 2012 Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting, 2012, pp. 41-51 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Heinzelmann, B.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.; Blanke, R.: Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Under Hood Flow with Heat Transfer for a Scaled Tractor-Trailer. SAE 2012 World Congress, 2012, pp. 42-56 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Mack, S.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.; Blume, S.; Unterlechner, P.: The Interior Design of a 40% Scaled DrivAer Body and First Experimental Results. ASME 2012, 2012, pp. 75-90 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )
  • Mack, S.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.; Unterlechner, P.: The Ground Simulation Upgrade of the Large Wind Tunnel at the Technische Universität München. SAE 2012 World Congress, 2012 more… BibTeX Full text ( DOI )

2011

Journal Articles

  • Bäder, D.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N. A.; Unterlechner, P.; Wickern, G.: Interference Effects of Cooling Air-Flows with External Aerodynamics. International Journal of Automotive Engineering (JSAE) 2, 2011, Pages 115–121 more… BibTeX
  • Devesa, A.; Indinger, T.: Verbrauchsreduktion an Nutzfahrzeugkombinationen durch aerodynamische Maßnahmen. FAT-Schriftenreihe 237, Forschungsvereinigung Automobiltechnik e.V. (FAT),, 2011 more… BibTeX
  • Han, L. H.; Indinger, T.; Hu, X. Y.; Adams, N. A.: Wavelet-based adaptive multi-resolution solver on heterogeneous parallel architecture for computational fluid dynamics. Computer Science - Research and Development 26 (3-4), 2011, Pages 197–203 more… BibTeX

Conference Papers

  • Bäder, D.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N. A.; Unterlechner, P.; Wickern, G.: Interference Effects of Cooling Air-Flows with External Aerodynamics. JSAE Annual Congress, ( International Journal of Automotive Engineering, Paper 324-20115236), 2011May 18.-20., 2011, Pacifico, Yokohama, Japan, more… BibTeX
  • Bäder, D.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N. A.; Decker, F.: Comparison of Numerical Simulations with Experiments of Bluff Bodies including Under-Hood Flow. SAE 2011 World Congress, , 2011April 12.-14., Detroit, Michigan, USA, , Paper 2011-01-0171 more… BibTeX
  • Heft, A. I.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N. A.: Investigation of Unsteady Flow Structures in the Wake of a Realistic Generic Car Model. AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference [29th.] , 2011 more… BibTeX
  • Theissen, P.; Wojciak, J.; Heuler, K.; Demuth, R.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.: Experimental Investigation of Unsteady Vehicle Aerodynamics under Time-Dependent Flow Conditions - Part 1,. SAE 2011 World Congress, , 2011April 12.-14., Detroit, Michigan, USA, Paper 2011-01-0177 more… BibTeX
  • Wojciak, J.; Adams, N.; Indinger, T.; Theissen, P.; Demuth, R.: Investigation of Unsteady Vehicle Aerodynamics under Time-Dependent Flow Conditions. AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference´[29th.], , 2011June 27.-30., Honolulu, Hawaii, USA,, Paper AIAA 2011-3349 more… BibTeX
  • Wojciak, J.; Theissen, P.; Heuler, K.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.; Demuth, R.: Experimental Investigation of Unsteady Vehicle Aerodynamics under Time-Dependent Flow Conditions - Part 2. SAE 2011 World Congress,, 2011April 12-14, 2011, Detroit, Michigan, USA more… BibTeX

2010

Conference Papers

  • Theissen, P.; Demuth, R.; Wojciak, J.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.A.: Unsteady Aerodynamic Phenomena under Time-Dependent Flow conditions for Different Vehicle Shapes. MIRA International Vehicle Conference [8th], 2010 more… BibTeX
  • Wojciak, J.; Indinger, T.; Adams, N.A.; Theissen, P.; Demuth, R.: Experimental Study of On-Road Aerodynamics during Crosswind Gusts. MIRA International Vehicle Conference [8th], 2010 more… BibTeX

Misc.

  • Indinger, T.; Adams, N.A.: Technologische Grundlagen für die zukünftigen Herausforderungen in der Fahrzeugaerodynamik. 2010 more… BibTeX
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