Analysis of the Unsteady Wakes of Heavy Trucks in Platoon Formation and Their Potential Influence on Energy Savings

2021-01-0953

04/06/2021

Features
Event
SAE WCX Digital Summit
Authors Abstract
Content
The authors present transient wind velocity measurements from two successive, well-documented truck platooning track-test campaigns to assess the wake-shedding behavior experienced by trucks in various platoon formations. Utilizing advanced analytics of data from fast-response (100-200-Hz) multi-hole pressure probes, this analysis examines aerodynamic flow features and their relationship to energy savings during close-following platoon formations. Applying Spectral analysis to the wind velocity signals, we identify the frequency content and vortex-shedding behavior from a forward truck trailer, which dominates the flow field encountered by the downstream trucks. The changes in dominant wake-shedding frequencies correlate with changes to the lead and follower truck fuel savings at short separation distances. All followers experience a reduction in wake-shedding frequency at following distances less than 20 m—the same zone where lead trucks experience fuel savings/drag reductions and where followers experience a reduction in platooning benefits. The dominant vortex-shedding frequency decreased by upwards of 35% in this region. Additionally, the third truck in a platoon is shown to experience a lower wake-shedding frequency than the second vehicle in either a two- or three-truck platoon. The correlation of changes in the vortex-shedding frequency to trends in drag reduction, and the associated energy savings, suggest that these phenomena may be related and may provide an opportunity for improving the efficiency potential of truck platooning.
Meta TagsDetails
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-01-0953
Pages
11
Citation
Ficenec, K., McAuliffe, B., Lammert, M., and Holden, J., "Analysis of the Unsteady Wakes of Heavy Trucks in Platoon Formation and Their Potential Influence on Energy Savings," SAE Technical Paper 2021-01-0953, 2021, https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-01-0953.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Apr 6, 2021
Product Code
2021-01-0953
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English