In this research, an attempt was made to employ the Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) method for a challenging computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problem of aerodynamics around NACA 2412 airfoils. The comparison was carried out thoroughly by using the same boundary conditions and geometry, comparing NURBS to standard FEM implementations. Our study was interested in demonstrating the foreseeable functionalities of NURBS for solving complex CFD problems and conducting a comparative effectiveness performance evaluation between them with traditional FEM methodologies.

This study presents a morphing Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) optimization method for enhancing sports car aerodynamics, with performance evaluation conducted in the vehicle’s symmetry plane. The morphing approach enables precise, smooth deformations of rear-end and spoiler geometries while preserving shape continuity, allowing controlled aerodynamic modifications suitable for comparative analysis. Flow simulations were carried out in ANSYS Fluent 2022 using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with the standard k-ε turbulence model, selected for its stability and accuracy in predicting boundary-layer evolution, wake behavior, and flow separation in external automotive flows. Three configurations were assessed: the baseline model, a spoiler-equipped version, and two NURBS-morphed designs. The symmetry-plane evaluation ensured bilateral balance across all variants, enabling direct comparison of drag and lift performance. The results show that the proposed morphing strategy achieved notable lift reduction and favorable drag-to-lift ratios while maintaining manufacturability. The findings demonstrate that combining NURBS-based morphing with symmetry-plane aerodynamic assessment offers an efficient, reliable framework for vehicle aerodynamic optimization, bridging geometric flexibility with robust computational evaluation.