DRAG REDUCTION OF A SIMPLIFIED TRUCK MODEL USING CAB ROOF FAIRINGS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/aej.v13.19277Keywords:
Aerodynamics, Flow control, CFD, Wind tunnel, DragAbstract
Adverse effects of climate change have prompt transition towards a low-carbon transportation sector. Electrification of the transportation sector is one of the ongoing efforts to reduce the Greenhouse Gas emissions. However, electrification of long haul and heavy-duty vehicles remain a huge challenge due to cost and limitation in the current battery technology. Improving the aerodynamic design of current truck-trailer is an alternative to electrification. This initiative involves modifying the current truck-trailer body design or attaching accessories for aerodynamic drag reduction that can lead to improved fuel economy. In this paper, the effectiveness of four Cab Roof Fairing (CRF) designs on the aerodynamic drag reduction of a simplified truck model is investigated. The results of a numerical simulation performed on a two-dimensional model show that the CRF can reduce aerodynamic drag by up to 45%. The CRF is found to reduce the vertical velocity component of the flow at fore part of the truck body. This leads to a relatively smaller wake region when compared against the baseline case. Wind tunnel results is performed to verify the results of the numerical simulation. At Reynolds number , the measured coefficient of drag reduction is about 6% when compared with the baseline case.
References
Suruhanjaya Tenaga. 2021. Malaysia Energy Statistics Handbook 2020, Suruhanjaya Tenaga, Malaysia,
S. I. Mustapa and H. A. Bekhet, 2016, “Analysis of CO2 emissions reduction in the Malaysian transportation sector: An optimisation approach,” Energy Policy, 89: 171–183, doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.11.016.
National Automotive Policy 2020, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia,
B. Nykvist and O. Olsson, 2021, “The feasibility of heavy battery electric trucks,” Joule, 5(4): 901–913, doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2021.03.007.
R. Vijayagopal and A. Rousseau, 2021 “Electric truck economic feasibility analysis,” World Electric Vehicle Journal, 12(2): 75, doi: 10.3390/wevj12020075.
R. McCallen et al., 2007. “DOE Project on Heavy Vehicle Aerodynamic Drag,” Livermore, CA (United States). doi: 10.2172/1036846.
A. Hariram, T. Koch, B. Mårdberg, and J. Kyncl, 2019, “A study in options to improve aerodynamic profile of heavy-duty vehicles in Europe,” Sustainability (Switzerland), 11(19): 5519. doi: 10.3390/su11195519.
P. Adams et al., “Transformers-Configurable and Adaptable Trucks and Trailers for Optimal Transport.” [Online]. Available: www.transformers-project.eu Retrieved on 25 September 2021
J. J. Kim, S. Lee, M. Kim, D. You, and S. J. Lee, 2017 “Salient drag reduction of a heavy vehicle using modified cab-roof fairings,” Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 164: 138–151, doi: 10.1016/j.jweia.2017.02.015.
J. J. Kim, J. Hong, and S. J. Lee, 2017 “Bio-inspired cab-roof fairing of heavy vehicles for enhancing drag reduction and driving stability,” International Journal of Mechanical Science. 131–132: 868–879, doi: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2017.08.010.
T. Charles and Z. Yang, 2022 “Comparison of the Effectiveness of Drag Reduction Devices on a Simplified Truck Model through Numerical Simulation,” Modelling, 3(3): 300–313. doi: 10.3390/modelling3030019.
J. Story, I. V. Garcia, and H. Babinsky. 2021. “The Effect of Cross-Flow Vortex Trap Devices on the Aerodynamic Drag of Road Haulage Vehicles,” SAE Technical Paper, 2021-01-5040,10, doi: 10.4271/2021-01-5040.
T. Castelain, M. Michard, M. Szmigiel, D. Chacaton, and D. Juvé, 2018, “Identification of flow classes in the wake of a simplified truck model depending on the underbody velocity,” Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 175: 352–363, doi: 10.1016/j.jweia.2018.02.004.
D. Landman, R. Wood, W. Seay, and J. Bledsoe, 2010, “Understanding practical limits to heavy truck drag reduction,” SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles. 2(2): 183–190, doi: 10.4271/2009-01-2890.
J. J. Kim and S. J. Lee, 2017, “Drag-reducing underbody flow of a heavy vehicle with side skirts,” Journal of Visualization. 20(2): 369–378. doi: 10.1007/s12650-016-0401-7.
R. G. Stephens and H. Babinsky, 2016 “An Experimental Study on Truck Side-Skirt Flow,” SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 9(2): 2016-01–1593, doi: 10.4271/2016-01-1593.
R. L., Peterson, 1981. “Drag reduction obtained by the addition of a boat-tail to a box shaped vehicle,”, NASA Contractor Report 163113. Dryden Flight Research Center.
T. Skrucany, B. Sarkan, and J. Gnap, 2016. “Influence of aerodynamic trailer devices on drag reduction measured in a wind tunnel,” Eksploatacja i Niezawodnosc, 18(1): 151–154, doi: 10.17531/ein.2016.1.20.
L. Salati, P. Schito, and F. Cheli, 2017. “Wind tunnel experiment on a heavy truck equipped with front-rear trailer device,” Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 171: 101–109, doi: 10.1016/j.jweia.2017.09.016.
A. Anna Rejniak and A. Gatto, 2021, “On the drag reduction of road vehicles with trailing edge-integrated lobed mixers,” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 236(7): 1515-1545 doi: 10.1177/09544070211039697.
