SAE WIND TUNNEL TEST PROCEDURE FOR TRUCKS AND BUSES

Truck and Bus Aerodynamics and Fuel Economy Committee

The Truck and Bus Aerodynamic and Fuel Economy Committee reports to the Total Vehicle Steering Committee of the Truck and Bus Council and is responsible for initiating, developing, reviewing, and approving Recommended Practices, Standards, and Information Reports related to the aerodynamics and fuel economy of single unit trucks, tractor-trailer combination vehicles and buses of all weight categories intended for highway use. The aerodynamics of trucks and buses are extremely complex requiring unique testing and evaluation tools to represent critical flow features that allow an accurate determination of vehicle aerodynamics. The committee develops testing and analysis procedures for aerodynamic investigations of operational vehicles, concept vehicles, and a wide range of vehicle components including both passive and active technologies. Representative aerodynamic technologies include such items as fairings, flow control systems, boat tails, and skirts. A second and equally important committee work area is the development of procedures to determine the fuel economy of a complete vehicle or the change in fuel economy of a vehicle resulting from a change in a vehicle system. Fuel economy testing and analysis procedures are developed for on-road and on-track testing of trucks and buses. These procedures are required to address the unique testing requirements associated with changes in all vehicle systems such as aerodynamics, fuel, lube, drive train, and tires. A critical element of all committee work is to ensure the latest test equipment, facilities, and instrumentation technology as well as current and rigorous engineering procedures are included in all committee work products. Committee members include individuals from original equipment manufacturers, suppliers, consulting firms, government employees, academia and others involved in the truck and bus industries.