Aerodynamic Analysis Using CFD of a Formula SAE Car Front Nose

The aerodynamic performance of Formula SAE (FSAE) cars strongly influences speed, stability, and energy efficiency. This study introduces a systematic CFD based comparison of four front nose geometries an aspect that remains underexplored in existing FSAE literature. Four distinct nose shapes were modeled in SolidWorks and evaluated in ANSYS Fluent under identical boundary conditions at a free stream velocity of 100 km/h. The Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations were solved using the k–? SST turbulence model, and a mesh independence study ensured numerical accuracy. The optimized nose achieved a drag coefficient of 0.24, representing a 14% reduction relative to the published baseline value of 0.28, thereby quantifying the aerodynamic improvement contributed by this work. Flow field analysis confirmed smoother airflow, delayed separation, and reduced wake turbulence for the optimized geometry. These findings provide new insight into front nose aerodynamic optimization and offer practical design guidance for FSAE teams and potential applications in race car and electric-vehicle aerodynamics.

[1]   Dharmawan, M. A., Tjahjana, D. D. P., Kristiawan, B., and Pertiwi, S. I., “Design and Aerodynamics Analysis of Rear Wing Formula Student Car Using 3?Dimension CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics).” AIP Conference Proceedings 2217, no. 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0001049

[2]   Baren, I. V., Milligan, A. V., Ashcraft, S., Rosser, S., and Wang, X., “Modeling, Analysis and Design of the Formula SAE Aerodynamics System.” In Proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, vol. 84584, V010T10A062, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2020-24374

[3]   Hoque, M. A., Rahman, M. S., Rimi, K. N., Alif, A. R., and Haque, M. R., “Enhancing Formula Student Car Performance: Nose Shape Optimization via Adjoint Method.” Results in Engineering 20 (2023): 101636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2023.101636

[4]   Kalinowski, M. and Szczepanik, M., “Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of Racing Car Front Wing.” IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1037, no. 1 (2021): 012058. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1037/1/012058

[5]   G. V. Kulkarni, H. S. Balasubramanya, B. V. Nagesh, Y. Lakkegowda, and B. R. Omkaresh, “Aerodynamics study of the Formula SAE car using analytical approach,” Journal of Mines, Metals & Fuels, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 455–461, 2022. https://doi.org/10.18311/jmmf/2022/32024

[6]   A. Mohanan, J. A. Pandey, A. V. Gupta, S. G. Almeida, and D. Choudhari. “Development of External Aerodynamics of an FSAE Racecar Using Computational Fluid Dynamics.”, International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT), 2021. ISSN: 2278-0181

[7]   S. Patil, and L. B. Rao. “Aerodynamic Study of the Different Spoiler Section Design Used in Formula?SAE Cars.” SAE Technical Paper 2021?28?0181, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-28-0181

[8]   S. Wille, K. Hendrickson, and R. K. Agarwal. “Optimization Study of Front and Rear Wings of Motorsport Using Computational Fluid Dynamics.” In AIAA SciTech 2021 Forum, 1734, 2021. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-1734

[9]   E. S. Cole, "Design and Validation of an Aerodynamic System for a Formula SAE Vehicle Using Vehicle Dynamic Simulation and Experimentation." Master’s thesis, West Virginia University, 2023.

[10]         A. Guerrero, and R. Castilla, “Aerodynamic Study of the Wake Effects on a Formula 1 Car.” Energies 13, no. 19 (2020): 5183. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13195183

[11]         Bavapuram, V. S. S., S. N. Suresh, S. Sharma, and V. Kaushik, “Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Formula?Based Vehicle Through ANSYS.” In Future Learning Aspects of Mechanical Engineering, 121–132. Singapore: Springer, 2022.

[12]         Md. Hassaan, S. Dewivedi, H. Khurshid, G. H.Warsi, M. Alam, A. Rahim, “Computational Study on the Diffuser of Formula Racing Car.” In Future Learning Aspects of Mechanical Engineering, 481–496. Singapore: Springer, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1894-2_41

[13]         M. Basso, C. Cravero, and D. Marsano. “Aerodynamic Effect of the Gurney Flap on the Front Wing of a F1 Car and Flow Interactions with Car Components.” Energies 14, no. 8 (2021): 2059. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14082059

[14]         S. Upadhye1, D. Khairwa, M. Nagpure, A. Mangrulkar, A. Deotale, H. Nagpure, “Estimation of Drag and Downforces Using Aerodynamic Profile on Formula Student Vehicle.” International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, 2021.

[15]         J. Katz, et al. “Aerodynamics in Motorsports.” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology 235, no. 4 (2021): 324–338. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754337119893226

[16]         C. Cravero, and D. Marsano. “Computational Investigation of the Aerodynamics of a Wheel Installed on a Race Car with a Multi?Element Front Wing.” Fluids 7, no. 6 (2022): 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids7060182

[17]         P. Qin, A. Ricci, and B. Blocken. “CFD Simulation of Aerodynamic Forces on the DrivAer Car Model: Impact of Computational Parameters.” Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 248 (2024): 105711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2024.105711

[18]         M. I. Ma'arof, L. Puvunathan, W, Z, M, Yusof, S. Suresh, G. T. Chala, “Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) Analysis to Determine Canard’s Downforce.” INTI Journal 22 (2020).

[19]         A. Bhosale, M. S. Malik, S. P. Dillibabu, V. K. Javanjal, R, Karthikeyan K. “Enhancing Passenger Vehicle Performance: A Study of CFD Technique and Machine Learning for Optimal Rear Spoiler Design and Lateral Stability.” International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering 12, no. 2 (2024): 100–111.

[20]         T. P. O’Driscoll, and A. R. Barron. “CFD Analysis of the Location of a Rear Wing on an Aston Martin DB7 in Order to Optimize Aerodynamics for Motorsports.” Vehicles 4, no. 2 (2022): 608–620. https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles4020035

[21]         A. Guerrero, R. Castilla, and G. Eid. “A Numerical Aerodynamic Analysis on the Effect of Rear Underbody Diffusers on Road Cars.” Applied Sciences 12, no. 8 (2022): 3763. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12083763

[22]         J. Pacheco, A. C. Marta, and L. Eça. “Wind Tunnel Testing of a Formula Student Vehicle for Checking CFD Simulation Trends.” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering vol. 238, no. 14 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1177/09544070231203076

[23]         X. Castro, and Z. A. Rana. “Aerodynamic and Structural Design of a 2022 Formula One Front Wing Assembly.” Fluids 5, no. 4 (2020): 237. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids5040237

[24]         Predescu, O. G. Racecar Undertray Study for a Formula SAE Prototype. Bachelor’s thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2022.

[25]         M. Lu?i?, “Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis of the Divergent Part of the Formula Student Car Restrictor.” Transactions of Motauto World 8, no. 1 (2023): 9–13.

[26]         K. Ambo, H. Nagaoka, D. A. Philips, C. Ivey, G. A. Brès and S. T. Bose, “Aerodynamic Force Prediction of the Laminar to Turbulent Flow Transition Around the Front Bumper of the Vehicle Using Dynamic?Slip Wall Model LES.” In AIAA SciTech 2020 Forum, 0036, 2020. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2020-0036

[27]         P. Singh, V. Chhettri, and N. K. Gupta. “Computational Analysis of Aerodynamics Characteristics of High?Speed Moving Vehicle.” In Characterization, Testing, Measurement, and Metrology, 125–137. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2020.

[28]         Y. Indrawan, and M. Mulyadi. “Pengaruh Variasi Model Body Formula SAE terhadap Efisiensi Kerja dengan Uji Simulasi Aerodinamika.” Innovation Technology: Methodical Research Journal 3, no. 3 (2024): 12. https://doi.org/10.47134/innovative.v3i3.111

[29]         Chen, Y., J. Zhou, G. Su, and C. Wang. “Design and Analysis of FSC Formula Racing Car Body.” Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1635, no. 1 (2020): 012025. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1635/1/012025

[30]         M. Dickison, M. Ghaleeh, S. Milady, S. Subbakrishna, L. T. Wen, M. Al Qubeissi, “Investigation into the Aerodynamic Performance of a Concept Sports Car.” Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics 13, no. 2 (2020): 583–601. https://doi.org/10.29252/jafm.13.02.30179

[31]         N. Stojanovic, O. I. Abdullah, Ivan Grujic, Jasna Glisovic, “The Influence of Spoiler on the Aerodynamic Performances and Longitudinal Stability of the Passenger Car Under High?Speed Condition.” Journal of Visualization 26, no. 1 (2023): 97–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-022-00867-2

[32]         S. Anbalagan, C. Deepak, K. Virmani, and T. Madhogaria. “Computational Analysis of Pitch Sensitivity for Concept Race Cars.” SAE Technical Papers, (2022).

[33]         A. Huminic, and G. Huminic. “Aerodynamic Study of a Generic Car Model with Wheels and Underbody Diffuser.” International Journal of Automotive Technology 18, no. 3 (2017): 397–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-017-0040-6

[34]         A. Piszczatowski, M. Kmiotek, A. Kordos, and A. Zaremba. “Modeling of the Front Wing Cross?Section for a Formula Student Vehicle.” Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal 20, no. 6 (2026). https://doi.org/10.12913/22998624/216767

[35]         E. N. Hogea, R. J. Hogea, and R. K. Agarwal. “3D Iterative Parametric Optimization Study of a FSAE Aerodynamic Package Using Computational Fluid Dynamics.” In AIAA SciTech 2026 Forum, 1898, 2026. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-1898

[36]         Sankar, Hari, Sarang Holay, Masami Ikeda, and Ramanand Singh. “Understanding Prevailing Physics in Automotive Aerodynamics Applications—Detached Eddy Simulation vs Reynolds?Averaged Navier–Stokes Approach.” SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles 19, no. 4 (2026). https://doi.org/10.4271/02-19-04-0023

[37]         C. M. de Freita, G. D. Telli, and J. S. Rosa. “Aerodynamic Influence of Front Wing Geometry on Formula One Car Performance: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Review.” In SAE Brasil 2025 Congress. SAE Technical Paper, 2025. https://doi.org/10.4271/2025-36-0043