Investigation of aerodynamic drag on tractor-trailer in underground road traffic
by Prasad Vegendla; Tanju Sofu
International Journal of Aerodynamics (IJAD), Vol. 5, No. 2, 2016

Abstract: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in 3D are performed to analyse the aerodynamic drag performance of a truck for two different on-highway road tunnel dimensions. The objective of this work is to investigate the aerodynamic drag performance of single- and multiple vehicle platooning configurations in single- and multi-lane one-way road traffic condition. Significant aerodynamic drag benefit is observed in no-traffic vehicle with an increase in gap between vehicle and road tunnel. In the vehicle platooning, the predicted aerodynamic drag benefit is up to 23% at lower vehicle separation. The aerodynamic drag benefit gradually drops in one-lane traffic and negative performance is observed from 60ft separation distance onwards. In two-lane traffic, where one vehicle is behind the other without a lateral separation, the predicted aerodynamic drag benefit is up to 60 and 44% at vehicle separation distance of 30 and 150ft, respectively. The aerodynamic drag changes are negligible with an increase in vehicle separation distance where two vehicles are separated laterally with 1.2 m distance. In all configurations, the leading vehicle aerodynamic drag changes are negligible irrespective of the vehicle separation distance.

Online publication date: Mon, 28-Nov-2016

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