Optimización aerodinámica del carenado de un vehículo tipo KART basada en CFD, orientada a la reducción del coeficiente de arrastre

Abstract

This study aims to optimize the fairing of a go-kart to improve its aerodynamic efficiency and reduce drag, a key factor influencing energy consumption and stability. The research identified limitations in conventional designs, characterized by high resistance and low aerodynamic load. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, 3D scanning, and high-resolution CAD modeling were used to address these issues. Three optimized configurations were developed, which better channel airflow, reduce pressure zones, and decrease drag. The results showed a reduction in the drag coefficient, from 0.27 in the original model to values of 0.22 and 0.24, thus improving performance, efficiency, and safety. The study concludes that using CFD in the early design stages is an effective and cost-efficient strategy, laying the groundwork for future research to validate these findings through real-world testing.