Análise e dimensionamento de um sistema de escapamento para um veículo fórmula SAE®

Abstract

This work aims to develop and analyze an exhaust system for a Formula SAE® vehicle, focusing on optimizing its geometry through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The justification for the research lies in the importance of an efficient exhaust system to improve engine performance and, consequently, the vehicle’s competitiveness. The methodology involved modeling the exhaust system in Ansys® Fluent® software, conducting simulations to evaluate parameters such as pressure, temperature, and gas flow distribution. A mesh independence study was also conducted, which indicated that meshes with around 800 thousand elements offer a good balance between accuracy and computational efficiency. The results showed that an optimized geometry performed better in terms of thermal distribution and flow resistance compared to an initial, more complex geometry with inferior performance. The conclusion highlights that the optimized geometry is more suitable for the design, both in terms of performance and manufacturability. This study contributes to the enhancement of exhaust system designs in competition vehicles, demonstrating the significance of small design changes for substantial performance gains.