Andrea Contursi’s thesis, “Optimization of an Automotive Cooling System Through CFD and Advanced Mesh Morphing Techniques”, developed at the University of Rome Tor Vergata under the supervision of Prof. Marco Evangelos Biancolini, presents an innovative approach to optimizing automotive cooling systems through the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and advanced mesh morphing techniques. The research leverages RBF software integrated with the STAR-CCM+ solver to establish an efficient workflow for geometric parameterization and aerodynamic analysis.

The study includes two major applications. First, it examines the ASMO wind tunnel model, providing a parametric study of its geometry and its impact on drag coefficient. Second, it focuses on a cooling system proposed by Volvo for the AeroSUV concept. By optimizing the intake channel geometry, the research achieved a 13.2% improvement in cooling system efficiency. This highlights the effectiveness of coupling advanced mesh morphing with CFD to solve complex engineering problems.

RBF software played a pivotal role in the project. Its mesh-less approach eliminated the need for remeshing, significantly reducing computational overhead. The tool’s high parallelization capabilities enhanced the speed and efficiency of the workflow, enabling precise and iterative optimization. These advancements underscore the potential of integrating innovative numerical tools like RBF Morph in automotive design and other engineering fields, paving the way for improved performance and resource-efficient solutions.

We invite you to read the presentation and the thesis.