An Experimental Study of Drag Reduction Devices for a Trailer Underbody and Base

Conference · Fri May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2004-2252· OSTI ID:15014223

Ortega, J M; Salari, K

Low speed wind tunnel measurements are made on a 1/16th scale generic tractor-trailer model at a width-based Reynolds number of 325,000. The model is fixed to a turntable, allowing the yaw angle to be varied between {+-}14 degrees in 2 degree increments. Various add-on drag reduction devices are mounted to the model underbody and base. The wind-averaged drag coefficient at 65 mph is computed for each configuration, allowing the effectiveness of the add-on devices to be assessed. The most effective add-on drag reduction device for the trailer underbody is a wedge-shaped skirt, which reduces the wind-averaged drag coefficient by 2.0%. For the trailer base, the most effective add-on drag reduction device is a set of curved base flaps having a radius of curvature of 0.91 times the trailer width. These curved base flaps reduce the wind-averaged drag coefficient by 18.8%, providing the greatest drag reduction of any of the devices tested. When the wedge-shaped skirt and curved base flaps are used in conjunction with one another, the wind-averaged drag coefficient is reduced by 20%.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 15014223
• Report Number(s): UCRL-CONF-204489; TRN: US200805%%404
• Resource Relation: Conference: Presented at: 34th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, Portland, OR, United States, Jun 28 - Jul 01, 2004
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
CONFIGURATION
DRAG
REYNOLDS NUMBER
AERODYNAMICS
WIND TUNNELS
TRUCKS