Aerodynamic Simulations of a Class 8 Heavy Truck: Comparison to Wind Tunnel Results and Investigation of Blockage Influences Exa Corporation

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Horrigan, Kevin, author.

Conference Name:

SAE 2007 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress & Exhibition (2007-10-30 : Rosemont, Illinois, United States)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 2007

Summary:

The accuracy of the Lattice-Boltzmann based simulation method for prediction of aerodynamic drag on a heavy truck was evaluated by comparing results to twenty percent scale model wind tunnel measurements from the University of Washington Aeronautical Laboratory (UWAL). A detailed preproduction Kenworth T2000 tractor trailer was used as the scale model. The results include a comparison of normalized drag between simulation and wind tunnel as well as percentage drag change with the addition of a radius to the rear edge of the trailer. Significant effort was involved to model all of the wind tunnel details affecting the tractor-trailer drag. These are discussed along with the results of additional simulations which were performed to study the impact of the UWAL tunnel geometry relative to a tunnel with the same blockage and constant cross-sectional area, and a case with negligible blockage. Advanced post-processing of the simulation results was used to study the drag contribution from the trailer features including underbody, rear bumper, and bogie wheel assembly

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

2007-01-4295

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license