Influence of External Aerodynamic Elements on Characteristic Vehicle Performance: A Comprehensive Review Using Numerical Simulation Method

The reduction of the aerodynamic drag, a fundamental factor for the optimization of the performance of modern vehicles, is also because it has clear values of influence on power consumption, dynamic stability, and driving autonomy, particularly for electric vehicles. This paper, being a work of review, provides a state-of-the-art of the main principles and methods of air resistance reduction and focuses on the application of CFD to the analysis and optimization of the flow around the vehicle body. This research focuses on the fundamentals of pneumatic traction, design, and technology to mitigate pneumatic traction (i.e., spoilers, baseboards, active ventilation) as well as a literature review on the most noteworthy previous studies that applied CFD to analyze and improve pneumatic behaviour of conventional and electric vehicles. It also talks about drag coefficient and energy efficiency correlation, and the potential of applying artificial intelligence and generative design in the process of creating more efficient and sustainable results. The obtained results prove that the application of CFD tools to the preliminary design definition of the vehicle can widely improve the performance of the system, thanks to the reduction of the drag coefficient. The paper emphasizes the necessity for combining numerical simulations and laboratory work, and promotes the utilization of advanced analysis tools to enhance sustainable and efficient energy transfer in the vehicular environment.