Main research fields
I. Vehicle thermo- and energy-management
The optimisation of the thermo-fluid characteristics of the cooling-air-flow through the engine compartment and the under-hood area plays a crucial role in the development of both the temperature durability of the hot components, as well as the energy efficiency of the whole vehicle. Enhanced experimental and numerical simulation methods allow further research and exploration of innovative technologies in this area.
II. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of convective heat transfer and radiation in vehicle under-hood flows
The progressive development of parallel-computing and processor technology over the past decades allow enhanced applications of the high-performance computing (HPC) in the industrial research and development areas. The automotive applications in field of under-hood thermo-fluid-processes are to be adapted to the state-of-the-art methodologies.
III. Whole vehicle acoustics and NVH-analysis
The development of the NVH of modern passenger cars requires thorough utilisation of a broad range of virtual and experimental tools. These are to be enhanced with the latest methodologies to analyse the future solutions and explore innovations in the area of vehicle acoustics.
IV. Vehicle working strength and durability analysis
The working strength and durability analysis plays a very important role in the vehicle development process. Besides paying attention to the valid legal regulations it is also very important from the aspect of road traffic safety. In this development process are utilised various numerical simulations as well as experimental techniques, which demand a thorough investigation of applicability based on solid research ground.
Partnerships and connections
The department co-operates with numerous partners. These are set up from:
• partner-departments and research groups
• industrial partners
• student organisations
SAE/Formula Student activities
• the Formula Student is seen as a unique possibility to motivate the interested students to work in an international engineering competition environment and at the same time to obtain the very essential practical engineering aspects of vehicle development
• our goal is to promote the university’s F-SAE racing team to reach their targets of successful operation
• the department of whole vehicle engineering bears a central responsibility of mentoring the university’s F-SAE racing car engineering and operations