A 1:3 Small Scale Vehicle Model Investigation in Small Scale Wind Tunnel and Correlation with Full Vehicle Testing

In present study a comparative investigation and correlation attempted on small scale vehicle model for aerody-namic drag performance at small scale wind tunnel test facility in India vs full vehicle tested at globally know and accepted full scale test facility in Pininfarina, Italy. Current investigation aims to assess the small-scale wind tunnel suitable for testing 1:3 small scale car models A scale model of 1:3 scale size was tested in small scale wind tunnel (at IISC,Bengaluru, India) having test section area of 11.68 Sq. m. To understand the overall vehicle aerodynamic drag performance small scale model was test-ed for different configurations such as baseline, spoiler removal, underbody cover and different yaw condition. To understand the correlation between small scale vs full vehicle’s aerodynamic performance one actual vehicle was also tested at full scale wind tunnel Pinifarina Italy. Results of both the wind tunnel test indicates that delta Cd trend of different proposals is similar for small scale and full-scale model. Absolute Cd value of a vehicle can be predicted in +-4% error range, provided that all the necessary precaution has been taken from the making of scale model to testing in wind tunnel