Aerodynamic Analysis and Simulation of Drag Racing Motorcycle Bodywork

Abstract

In this paper, an aerodynamic analysis and optimization is performed on the Lightning LS-218 drag racing motorcycle. The motorcycle is raced by the EVO Racing Team, and ridden by the owner Jay Schroeder, based out of Mesa, Arizona. To complete this project, a series of Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed in the STAR-CCM+ software environment. Models of the motorcycle and rider were created using a combination of Siemens NX CAM and CREO PTC software. From each simulation, drag and lifting force measurements were calculated from the STAR-CCM+ software as, well as flow velocity, particle streamline, and pressure coefficient scenes. By reading information from all these measurement sources, a series of design iterations were tested to minimize the overall drag force and maximize the overall downforce acting on the rider and motorcycle configuration. After the simulations were completed, the best design iteration was chosen by finding the best trade-off between the two these two force measurements, as when one increased or decreased, the other would also. In conclusion, a design was selected to be used as the first preliminary design in an ongoing aerodynamic design optimization process for the LS-218.