Effects of Upper-Side Inclination Angle on Aerodynamic Loads of a Golf Cart using 3D CFD

Abstract

Currently, golf cars as a means of transportation vehicles have been used at large universities spread over large areas, expensive hotels and housing complexes and most recently for travel comfort, namely in the hotel industry. Theoretically, aerodynamic drag on transportation vehicles contributes around 50-60% to vehicle fuel consumption. The aim of this research is that by utilizing the upper-side inclination angle of the golf car, it can reduce aerodynamic drag and automatically reduce vehicle fuel consumption. In this paper, the effect of upper-side inclination angle on aerodynamic loads on a golf cart (i.e. total pressure, turbulence kinetic energy, velocity contour, and drag force) is investigated using 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics. The results of the research show that at the same speed, the greater the upper-side inclination angle of a golf cart the greater the drag force obtained. A tilt angle of 60⁰ with a speed of 20 km/h produces the lowest drag force value. When compared to standard (0⁰ tilt angle) the reduction in drag is around 38.06 %. In conclusion, that 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics can simulate the influence of the upper-side inclination angle on the aerodynamic load from the golf cart.