This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Aerodynamic Drag Reduction of the Underbody of a Class-8 Tractor-Trailer
Technical Paper
2006-01-3532
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Experimental measurements of a 1:20-scale tractor-trailer configuration were obtained in the 48- by 32-Inch Subsonic Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. The model included significant details of the underbody geometries of both the tractor and trailer. In addition, the tractor included a flow-through grill and a simplified engine block to provide an approximation of the flow through the engine compartment. The experiment was conducted at a Reynolds Number of 430,000 for yaw angles between ±14 deg. The measurements included forces and moments and static surface pressures for various underbody configurations. Simple fairings on the underbodies of the tractor and trailer both yielded a reduction in the wind-averaged drag coefficient of 0.018 (2.7%) when tested separately. A horizontal plate designed to block vertical flow in the tractor-trailer gap provided marginally higher drag reduction (0.021, or 3.2%). Trailer side skirts were considerably more effective producing a drag reduction of 0.073 (11%).
Recommended Content
Topic
Citation
Storms, B. and Ross, J., "Aerodynamic Drag Reduction of the Underbody of a Class-8 Tractor-Trailer," SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-3532, 2006, https://doi.org/10.4271/2006-01-3532.Also In
References
- McCallen R. Flowers, D. Dunn, T. Owens, J. Leonard, A. Brady, M. Brownad, F. Hammache, M. Salari, K. Rutledge, W. Ross, J. Storms, B. Heineck, J.T. Driver, D. Bell, J. Zilliac, G. Walker, S. “Aerodynamic Drag of Heavy Vehicles (Class 7-8): Simulation and Benchmarking,” 2000-01-2209 , SAE Gov/Industry Meeting Washington, D.C. June 19-21 2000
- Cooper, K. R. “Truck Aerodynamics Reborn - Lessons from the Past,” SAE Paper 2003-01-3376 November 2003
- Cooper, K. “The Wind Tunnel Testing of Heavy Trucks to Reduce Fuel Consumption,” SAE Paper 821285 November 1982
- Croll, R. H. Gutierrez, W. T. Hassan, B. Suazo, J. E. Riggins, A. J. “Experimental Investigation of the Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) Project for Heavy Vehicle Drag Reduction,” SAE Paper 960907 February 1996
- Storms, B.L. Ross, J.C. Heineck, J.T. Walker, S.M. Driver, D.M. Zilliac, G.G. “An Experimental Study of the Ground Transportation System (GTS) Model in the NASA Ames 7- by 10 Foot Wind Tunnel.” February 2001
- Hammache, M. Michaelian, M. Browand, F. “Aerodynamic Forces on Truck Models, Including Two Trucks in Tandem,” SAE Paper 2002-01-0530 March 2002
- Heineck, J. T. Walker, S. M. Satran, D. “The Measurement of Wake and Gap Flows of the Generic Conventional Truck Model (GCM) using Three-Component PIV,” The Aerodynamics of Heavy Vehicles: Trucks, Buses and Trains Monterey-Pacific Grove, CA Dec. 2002
- Storms, B. L. Satran, D. R. Heineck, J. T. Walker, S. M. “A Study of Reynolds Number Effects and Drag-Reduction Concepts on a Generic Tractor-Trailer,” AIAA Paper 2004-2251 June 2004
- “SAE Wind Tunnel Test Procedure for Trucks and Buses,” SAE J1252 JUL81, SAE Recommended Practice July 1981
- Cooper, K. R Leuschen, J. “Model and Full Scale Wind Tunnel Tests of Second-Generation Aerodynamic Fuel Saving Devices for Tractor Trailers,” SAE Paper 2005-01-3512 November 2005