Improving Automotive Fuel Efficiency with Deturbulator Tape

A new method for reducing aerodynamic drag of trucks and vans has been developed. It uses Deturbulator tape to transform separated turbulent wakes into stagnant virtually solid streamlining extensions attached to the vehicle. Constrained mode flow-induced surface oscillations of the 100-μm thick, passive, flexible-surface Deturbulator tape attenuates turbulent mixing by driving the turbulence to a pre-selected high frequency in the dissipation range. Wind tunnel tests indicated 80% drag reduction. Road tests on a minivan and pickup truck showed 15-20% increased highway fuel economy due to reduced drag. 6% reduction in overall fuel consumption was obtained for an operational Class-8tractor-semitrailer.