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The aerodynamic behavior of a low-drag Ahmed body under yaw conditions was investigated using wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations. The investigation focused on the evolution of flow structures across various yaw angles. The flow characteristics were systematically analyzed, with particular attention to front separation, lateral pressure distribution, spanwise vortex dynamics, the development of longitudinal vortices, and variations in vertical vortex structures. The displacement of the front saddle point led to the recovery of surface pressure on the front body when the yaw angle exceeded 20°, which was identified as the main contributor to drag reduction under high yaw conditions. Asymmetric front-end separation caused notable disparities in the side-surface flow and wake structures. Despite intensified pressure fluctuations on the windward side, the pressure differential between the two sides serves as a reliable indicator for estimating lateral force or yaw angle. A transition in the near-wake structure from a low-drag to a high-drag mode was observed from the windward to the leeward side. At a yaw angle of 16°, the near-wake fully transformed into a high-drag configuration. These findings enhance the understanding of crosswind aerodynamics in bluff vehicle bodies.
J et al. (Wed,) studied this question.