Adjoint-based air duct shape optimization (3149)
Target group: Automotive Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Product Development
At Research and Development you will be a key contributor to the next generation outstanding luxury cars from Volvo. Together with other engineers around the world, you and your team will create innovative human-centric car technology that makes life less complicated and more enjoyable for people. Are you interested in design and connected car technology? Do you share our passion for people, the environment and our urge to create a superior driving experience? Research and Development is the place for you to prosper.
The thesis will be performed at the “Climate Comfort” section at Volvo Cars. This group is responsible for the Climate Comfort attribute and is divided into a more attribute focused part and one part performing CFD Calculations.
Background
In order to be as economically efficient as possible, physical tests are reduced in favor of virtual development at automotive companies. This implies a need for highly accurate and robust computational methods.
At Volvo Cars, CFD is widely used in order to develop and optimize different systems and attributes of the car. For the climate system all the ducts are developed using CFD with regard of mass flow distribution and pressure drop.
To further improve on the CFD methods currently used, new technology is always continuously investigated. In the last few years a new method of optimizing shapes based on using multiple parameters has been developed called adjoint. The adjoint solver can either optimize a shape based on surface sensitivities or by volume topology.
Scope
The main objective of the master thesis will be to investigate the possibility to use adjoint CFD for duct creation and optimization. The focus will mainly be on using the volume topology approach to create a ducting system from scratch with as low pressure drop as possible that still fulfills the flow distribution requirements. By reducing the pressure drop, this will make the system more energy efficient and allow lower fan speed to be used, which also gains noise and comfort.
During the thesis the student will perform a literature survey to investigate what has been done previously when it comes to adjoint CFD to gain knowledge within the topic. Possible limitations with the method should also be investigated during the literature study. Thereafter the student will investigate the possibility to create a ducting system based on the adjoint method.
Profile
We are typically looking for students from Mechanical engineering, engineering Physics or Chemical engineering. Knowledge of Fluid Mechanics, CFD and experience of CFD tools such as ANSYS FLUENT, STAR-CCM+, OPENFOAM or equivalent is a strong merit.
Duration
- Estimated start date: Mid January 2017
- Estimated end date: Beginning of June 2017
- Academiccredits: 30 ECTS/hp
- For 1 student
Application
Apply at
Apply to the thesis work by providing CV, cover letter, grades and references through the application link on the Volvo cars website before 2017-11-30.
Contact
Supervisor: Martin Hübert, , tel 031-3259383
Manager: Andreas Sahlsten, , tel 031-3252123
About Volvo Car Group
The future belongs to those who are empowered by a great idea and have the ability to carry it out. At Volvo Car Group, our vision is clear: "To be the world's most progressive and desired premiumcar brand" by simplifying people's lives. We have bold targets when it comes to innovation, sales and customer satisfaction and to make this happen, we need talented people onboard. People with passion, energy, business sense and the drive to innovate. People that want to create the next generation Volvo cars in a global, dynamic and respectful environment. We will support you to reach your full potential. Join us on this exciting journey into the future.