BEng Dissertation – Active Front-Wing Aerodynamics

Context
Final-year BEng Aerospace Engineering project investigating transient aerodynamic behaviour of 2026-regulation active front-wing configurations.

Objective
To assess how transient aerodynamic loads evolve during active mode transitions and their implications for performance and stability.

Method
CFD-based investigation progressing from 2D studies to 3D steady configurations, including transient simulations using k-ω SST and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES).

Key Insights

• Transient aerodynamic load rates differed significantly between turbulence models.
• DES captured unsteady behaviour not resolved by steady RANS approaches.
• Load-rate management is critical for stability during active aero transitions.

Engineering Judgement
Results highlight the importance of considering transient effects and model fidelity when evaluating active aerodynamic systems under regulation constraints.

This page is a public technical summary; detailed data and full methods are omitted for academic integrity.