Engel, D., Golsch, K., Green, M., Smith, E. et al., "Design and CFD Analysis of an NHRA Funny Car Body," SAE Technical Paper 2008-01-3003, 2008, doi:10.4271/2008-01-3003.
Author(s):
Dan Engel - General Motors Corp.
Kevin Golsch - General Motors Corp.
Mike Green - Don Prudhomme Racing
Ed Smith - Applied Technologies, Inc.
Cem Albukrek - Exa Corp.
This paper describes the methodology used to design and perform a CFD analysis of a Chevrolet Impala SS Funny Car body. This body was designed for the purpose of making it available for teams to race it in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing series beginning with the 2007 race season.
Several challenges were presented in this project: (1) This was the first time a General Motors drag racing body for use in professional classes (Funny Car or otherwise) was ever designed in CAD. (2) The body was originally designed as a 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. After the tooling was completed, changes in Chevrolet’s product lineup required that the body be changed to a 2007 Impala SS. (3) Budget constraints precluded CFD analysis until after the bodies were already being manufactured.
There were several teams that raced the new body during the 2007 race season. One of these teams won the Funny Car Driver’s Championship.
Purchase more technical papers and save! With TechSelect,
you decide what SAE Technical Papers you need, when you need them, and how much you want to pay.
Learn more >
