ANALYSIS AND VALIDATION

Aerodynamics add-ons devices for heavy vehicles: Analysis and Validation

Contents

Introduction3

Discussion4

Paper 1: Investigation of Tractor Base Bleeding for Heavy Vehicle Aerodynamic Drag Reduction4

A summary of topic covered5

Discussion5

Why this is relevant and how it applies to my research8

My opinion on the research method8

Paper 2: DOE's Effort to Reduce Truck Aerodynamic Drag-Joint Experiments and Computations Lead to Smart Design9

A summary of topic covered9

Discussion9

Why this is relevant and how it applies to my research12

Conclusion12

References14

Aerodynamics add-ons devices for heavy vehicles: Analysis and Validation

Introduction

The aerodynamics is the study of phenomena aerodynamic induced by the flow of air around a moving vehicle. Knowledge of these phenomena allows among other things, reduce fuel consumption by reducing their drag, improving their driving behaviour by influencing their lift (or down force) and reducing the phenomena aero-acoustics and the turbulence at high speed. Aerodynamics is intrinsically linked to the fluid mechanics, testing wind tunnel have now become essential for automakers. Moreover, because of the complex phenomena involved in aerodynamics, these - and especially racing stables - also use the numerical calculation (or CFD "Computational Fluid Dynamics") to solve their problems. The paper will be based on the study of two previous researches, which gave suggestions to improve aerodynamic drag-reduction for the better fuel consumption of all heavy vehicles.

Our research will be based on the aerodynamics of the heavy vehicle examined by two main methods which include tests in the wind tunnel and computer modelling. Wind tunnels for testing vehicles equipped with sometimes moving walkway that simulates a moving roadway. Moreover, the wheels of the test vehicle are driven. These measures are taken in order to account for the effect of the roadway and rotating the wheels on the air currents. The research work will be based on the previous researches, which will help to model new methods and designs for improving the energy consumption due to aerodynamic drag-reduction of all heavy vehicles.

Discussion

Paper 1: Investigation of Tractor Base Bleeding for Heavy Vehicle Aerodynamic Drag Reduction

J. Ortega, K. Salari, B. Storms, (2007), Investigation of Tractor Base Bleeding for Heavy Vehicle Aerodynamic Drag Reduction, The Aerodynamics of Heavy Vehicles II: Trucks, Buses, and Trains, Tahoe City, CA, United States.

A summary of topic covered

The purpose of this paper is to present practices or technologies that can be beneficial for heavy vehicles including trucks, trains, buses, and highway tractor for reducing the aerodynamic drag without effecting their profitability and usefulness. This paper further explores the affect of these add-ons devices on vulnerable heavy road vehicles that are very close in approximation with tractor trailers or trucks, buses, and trains. The author has presented the report for a typical highway vehicle by calculating their expected potential reduction in drag coefficient. The paper further entails operational barriers in selecting the add-ons devices with reference to the Canadian trucking community. Through the examination of tractor-trailer gap flow physics, the research reveals methods for reducing the drag. According to the research, the drag coefficient can be reduced up to 0.146 (Ortega, ...