Title: Skin friction impacts on fuel consumption

Authors: Zambri Harun; Mohd Faruq Abdul Latif; Mohammad Rasidi Rasani; Wan Mohd Faizal Wan Mahmood

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia ' Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia ' Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia

Abstract: National fuel use in Malaysia is on the rise, so are its subsidies, which take a large chunk of national annual budgets. This study concerns drag reduction efforts, which are related to vehicle efficiencies by way of aerodynamics effects. The study supports the national agenda of reducing fuel use. By using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method, we found that the total fuel consumption contributed by the wind resistance with regard to engine thermal efficiency is 14.22% and the skin friction has minimal impact on the fuel consumption. We also found a certain boundary layer that develops over the complex surface of the car. This study benefits the local automotive industry by way of sharing the information of aerodynamic effects of a sport car.

Keywords: skin friction; fuel consumption; engine thermal efficiency; drag reduction; aerodynamic drag; computational fluid dynamics; CFD; wind resistance; boundary layers; sport cars; Malaysia; vehicle areodynamics; automotive drag.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2014.066505

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2014 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.281 - 292

Published online: 30 Dec 2014 *

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