Do you need help? Please contact our support team from 9 to 17 CET via support.pressclub@bmwgroup.com.

PressClub Global · Article.

The role of powerful computers in the development of the BMW M4 DTM: a detailed look at computational fluid dynamics.

When the six new BMW M4 DTMs take their place on the grid for the DTM season-opener on 6th May 2017, it will mark the temporary end of a long and intense period of development. A considerable part of this development took place with the aid of computer simulations. It is hard to imagine car development without computational fluid dynamics (CFD) these days.

More BMW Motorsport
·
BMW M Motorsport
 

Press Contact.

Ingo Lehbrink
BMW Group

Tel: +49-89-382-76003
Fax: +49-89-382-28567

send an e-mail

This article in other PressClubs

Munich. When the six new BMW M4 DTMs take their place on the grid for the DTM season-opener on 6th May 2017, it will mark the temporary end of a long and intense period of development. A considerable part of this development took place with the aid of computer simulations. It is hard to imagine car development without computational fluid dynamics (CFD) these days.

During the creation of a new race car, the smallest details can bring about a decisive advantage in the battle for those fractions of a second on the circuit. It is no wonder that the BMW Motorsport engineers leave nothing to chance. That is why the CFD flow calculations are of such special importance. The development of digitalisation has changed racing car design. Engineers can identify the most promising solutions for specific components without leaving the computer.

On computers, the aerodynamics experts simulate the effects of changes to the individual parts of each car – before the components have even been built. In the calculation, the model is split into a grid of 500 million three-dimensional cells, and the virtual airflows through them. Each of the cells can be separately analysed, sometimes for an entire day, depending on the type of simulation. Only half of a vehicle is required, as the air flow for straight-line travel is identical for both sides of the car.

BMW Motorsport employs experienced aerodynamicists to interpret the calculated values. Despite the quality of the CFD simulation, the technical expertise of the aerodynamicists is still a decisive factor in drawing the correct conclusions from the results. After precise analysis of the pressure distribution, flow lines and many other details, the aerodynamicists can make a specific recommendation for changes to be made to the components. If the part has proved itself during simulation, variations are tested in the wind tunnel on a scaled down, 60 per cent model. The computer-aided flow simulation is not intended to replace wind tunnel work, but complements it.

The preliminary calculations are dealt with by an armada of high-performance computers. BMW Motorsport uses the BMW cloud system to dynamically adjust the number of computers in use, and adjust the load for other users within the BMW Group. This bandwidth and availability of computing power means that it is possible to perform multiple calculations in parallel. The result: even more efficiency and precision in the development of BMW Motorsport racing cars – like the new BMW M4 DTM.

Article Offline Attachments.

Article Media Material.

My.PressClub Login
 

BMW Group Streaming

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024.

Munich. Here you can see the on demand webcast of the BMW Group Annual Conference 2024, with the world premiere of the next BMW vision vehicle on the "Road to Neue Klasse".

Open Streaming Page

CO2 emission information.

Fuel consumption, CO2 emission figures and power consumption and range were measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC) 2007/715 as amended. They refer to vehicles on the German automotive market. For ranges, the NEDC figures take into account differences in the selected wheel and tyre size, while the WLTP figures take into account the effects of any optional equipment.

All figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP test cycle. NEDC figures listed have been adjusted to the NEDC measurement method where applicable. WLTP values are used as a basis for the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also) based on CO2 emissions and, where applicable, for the purposes of vehicle-specific subsidies. Further information on the WLTP and NEDC measurement procedures is also available at www.bmw.de/wltp.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and official specific CO2 emissions of new cars, please refer to the “Manual on the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars”, available at sales outlets free of charge, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Latest Facts & Figures.

Specifications of the BMW XM 50e, valid from 02/2024.
Wed Mar 06 13:48:00 CET 2024
G09
BMW M Automobiles
Specifications of the BMW i5 xDrive40, valid from 03/2024.
Thu Feb 29 15:53:00 CET 2024
G60
BMW i
Specifications of the BMW iX2 eDrive20, valid from 03/2024.
Sat Feb 17 09:00:00 CET 2024
U10
BMW i
Show all

Add your filter tags.

Press Release
Press Kit
Speech
Fact & Figures
Spanish
  • Language of file attachment
  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • English
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Hungarian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Other Language
  • Russian
  • Spanish
Updates
Top-Topic
Submit filter
Clear all
 
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
 
Login