Design for Performance through Simulation
Automobile sales have always been driven in large part by the exterior design, and this trend is rapidly moving into other sectors of the ground transportation industry including commercial vehicles. Consumers and operators want vehicles that not only perform well, but look great and reflect their self-image. In addition, fuel economy and emissions control is now central to the sale of vehicles. Fuel economy and emissions are heavily influenced by aerodynamic drag, which in turn is influenced by tiny geometric details and very subtle changes in exterior surface design.
In the past, the studio has been able to design the exterior at the concept stage with minimal awareness of the aerodynamic, thermal, and aeroacoustic performance of the vehicle. It has been up to engineering to try to engineer in the performance after the fact, with very little ability to change the key exterior design parameters, thus limiting their ability to optimize the design for performance. Leading manufacturers now recognize that in order to compete globally, the separation between studio and engineering must be eliminated. Designers need to know in the earliest stages of concept development what the performance of their designs will be so the designs will be efficient from the start. Similarly, engineering teams must be able to communicate aerodynamic effects and propose changes to the design that will be acceptable to the designers.
In the past, the studio has been able to design the exterior at the concept stage with minimal awareness of the aerodynamic, thermal, and aeroacoustic performance of the vehicle. It has been up to engineering to try to engineer in the performance after the fact, with very little ability to change the key exterior design parameters, thus limiting their ability to optimize the design for performance. Leading manufacturers now recognize that in order to compete globally, the separation between studio and engineering must be eliminated. Designers need to know in the earliest stages of concept development what the performance of their designs will be so the designs will be efficient from the start. Similarly, engineering teams must be able to communicate aerodynamic effects and propose changes to the design that will be acceptable to the designers.