This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Turbulence Experienced by Road Vehicles under Normal Driving Conditions
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Two domains of aerodynamic testing of vehicles are identified; one representing typical driving conditions, where the average atmospheric wind is less than about 10 m/s; the other representing driving under extreme wind conditions for safety considerations. The first domain influences fuel consumption and other parameters related to driving comfort (e.g. aerodynamic noise, transient forces and transient moments experienced during general driving), whereas the second needs to be assessed for stability considerations.
The purpose of this paper is to document turbulence commonly encountered by vehicles moving at highway speeds under typical driving conditions. In order to document this, data obtained from hot-wire anemometers fitted above a moving vehicle are presented. It was found that longitudinal and lateral turbulence intensities ranged between 2.5% to 5% and 2.0% to 10% respectively. Spectral results showed the peak energy was centred at about 1 Hz although it varied between about 0.25 Hz to 2.5 Hz. Wind-tunnel modelling is discussed.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Watkins, S. and Saunders, J., "Turbulence Experienced by Road Vehicles under Normal Driving Conditions," SAE Technical Paper 950997, 1995, https://doi.org/10.4271/950997.Also In
References
- “Characteristics of Atmospheric Turbulence near the Ground Part 2” Engineering Science and Data Unit (ESDU), 85020 1985
- “SAA Loading Code Part 2 - Wind Forces” Australian Standard 1170 1975
- Buckley F.T. Jr. Marks C.H. Walston W.H. Jr. “A Study of Aerodynamic Methods for Improving Truck Fuel Economy” National Science Foundation, Grant No SIA-74-14843 University of Maryland USA December 1978
- Cooper R.K. “Atmospheric Turbulence with Respect to Ground Vehicles” J. Wind Eng. and Ind. Aerodyn. 17 1984
- Flay R.G.J. “Structure of a Rural Atmospheric Boundary Layer Near the Ground” PhD thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Canterbury New Zealand November 1978
- Kaimal J.C. “Turbulence Spectra, Length Scales and Structure Parameters in the Stable Surface Layer” Boundary Layer Met. 4 1973
- Sovran G. “The Effect of Ambient Wind on a Road Vehicle's Aerodynamic Work Requirement and Fuel Consumption” SAE 840298
- Watkins S. “Wind-Tunnel Modelling of Vehicle Aerodynamics” PhD thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Melbourne, Victoria, Australia November 1990