The technology for solar cars participating in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is constantly evolving. Teams from other universities are implementing innovative solutions in order to be a top contender in the event. JU Solar Team, the representatives for Jönköping University, are looking into applying wheel enclosures inside the body of the solar car, to improve the aerodynamics even further. Thus, the study will investigate how to integrate this component by using methods of design, fluid simulations and concept generation. In this case we are evaluating the effects of using enclosed wheels with the model from the 2019 solar car by JU Solar Team. The purpose of this is to generate empirical value for upcoming generations that will compete in the challenge.

The study is built around the 2019 solar car with its dimensions and modules, this include; the wheel suspension, the car body, steering angle, wheel and rim. Simulations are performed with and without enclosed wheels, and stationary wheels and rotating wheels. Wheel rotation and fluid speed are inherited from the driving speed of 72 km/h. Models were simplified during simulations to save computational time. 

The results show that wheel enclosures improve the aerodynamics of a solar car. With this simulation configuration and the fourth developed concept, an improvement of 8.22% was achieved. 

The study is limited to models being simplified and basic simulations. The research found facilitates possible further investigation for wheel enclosures: manufacturing method, materials and strength evaluation.