PhD Studentship: Automotive Wheel Spray Measurement and Modelling

In wet conditions there can be a significant reduction in visibility caused by the spray from other vehicles. Whilst this is dangerous to the human driver, it can become critical for ADAS systems and could constrain the future operational use of full Autonomous Driving Systems. It is not only obscuration by water and dirt that is problematic, an ADAS sensor that ‘imagines’ a vehicle due to the density of spray and initiates emergency breaking could also cause unnecessary accidents. Understanding the limits of such systems in adverse weather conditions is vital in the development process so that appropriate mitigation actions can be taken.

The UK Large Scale Infrastructure fund via EPSRC has awarded £1.1M to develop a dedicated facility to create a wheel spray from a full-size wheel and tyre within a purpose-built wind tunnel. This new facility will provide a) detailed data on flow and droplet distribution behind the contact patch of the tyre to provide the crucial boundary conditions for numerical simulation techniques, and b) the ability to mount real ADAS sensor systems downstream to understand their degradation whilst operating in spray. The facility will work with an isolated full-size wheel, subscale quarter car models (one wheel) and subscale full car models (four wheels). A postdoctoral researcher will lead the development of this facility commencing in October 2024.

The aim of the PhD is to provide underpinning analysis for the design of the facility and to take measurements when it is commissioned. In the initial phases high fidelity unsteady CFD simulations will be carried out to understand the behaviour of water droplets within the wind tunnel, progressing to simulations of the rotating wheel running in a film of water. The facility is due to be commissioned in September 2026 so that the final year of research will be dedicated to obtaining high quality optical measurements of the particle and velocity field close to and downstream of the wheel. The PhD researcher will work closely with the postdoctoral researcher.

The studentship is for 3 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.

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