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Passive flow control for drag reduction in vehicle platoons
Abstract The use of passive ducting from the vehicle nose out of the front wheel opening was studied as a method of modifying the wake profile of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race vehicle to influence its effect on the drag of a trailing vehicle. Utilizing a fixed inlet area due to geometric constraints, exit angle, height and exit/inlet area ratio were explored using multi-vehicle Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel validation. Results indicate that appropriately positioned ducts reduce trailing car drag throughout the range of vehicle spacing studied; most significantly, it reduces the drag peak for the trailing car at approximately 1/4 to 1/2 car length spacing. Increased exit area is shown to enhance drag reduction for the trailing car at all vehicle spacings. Increasing exit angle closer to perpendicular to the direction of travel was shown to be effective as well, even being capable of eliminating the drag peak for the trailing car. Aerodynamic efficiency was increased over the non-ducted baseline configuration with the duct exit angle nearer to the direction of travel, while it was negatively impacted with the duct exit angle perpendicular to the direction of travel. Wind tunnel testing confirmed that aerodynamic efficiency improvement was due to an increase in negative lift under the car, while Kiel probe measurements validated the shape and positioning of the wake changes caused by the ducts.
Passive flow control for drag reduction in vehicle platoons
Abstract The use of passive ducting from the vehicle nose out of the front wheel opening was studied as a method of modifying the wake profile of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race vehicle to influence its effect on the drag of a trailing vehicle. Utilizing a fixed inlet area due to geometric constraints, exit angle, height and exit/inlet area ratio were explored using multi-vehicle Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel validation. Results indicate that appropriately positioned ducts reduce trailing car drag throughout the range of vehicle spacing studied; most significantly, it reduces the drag peak for the trailing car at approximately 1/4 to 1/2 car length spacing. Increased exit area is shown to enhance drag reduction for the trailing car at all vehicle spacings. Increasing exit angle closer to perpendicular to the direction of travel was shown to be effective as well, even being capable of eliminating the drag peak for the trailing car. Aerodynamic efficiency was increased over the non-ducted baseline configuration with the duct exit angle nearer to the direction of travel, while it was negatively impacted with the duct exit angle perpendicular to the direction of travel. Wind tunnel testing confirmed that aerodynamic efficiency improvement was due to an increase in negative lift under the car, while Kiel probe measurements validated the shape and positioning of the wake changes caused by the ducts.
Passive flow control for drag reduction in vehicle platoons
Jacuzzi, Eric (author) / Granlund, Kenneth (author)
Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics ; 189 ; 104-117
2019-03-01
14 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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