A STUDY OF AUTOMOTIVE AERODYNAMIC DRAG

Reductions of aerodynamic drag in the 20-25% range through the use of several established drag-reduction devices and minor design changes have been demonstrated on three large sales-volume 1974 and 1975 model American automobiles. Comparisons of test techniques were made by testing one automobile both full-scale and as a 0.4-scale model in two different wind tunnels. Another vehicle was tested both full-scale in a wind tunnel and by the coast-down technique. Good comparative results were obtained.

• Corporate Authors:

  Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive
  Pasadena, CA  United States  91103

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142
• Authors:
  • Marte, J E
  • Weaver, R W
  • KURTZ, D W
  • Dayman, B J
• Publication Date: 1975-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 82 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Alternatives analysis; Automobiles; Chemical reduction; Demonstration projects; Design; Drag; Equipment; Information processing; Mathematical models; Performance tests; Road tests; Wind tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Change; Experimental data; Models; Revisions
• Old TRIS Terms: Demonstration; Reduction
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00133300
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-021 222, DOT-TSC-OST-75-28
• Contract Numbers: RA-74-36-PR612-0248
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 23 1990 12:00AM