THE EFFECT OF AERODYNAMIC DRAG ON THE COST OF TRANSPORT BY MOTORWAY

This paper considers the effect on the operating costs of lorries and buses due to the increased wind resistance encountered at motorway speeds. It is argued that the installation of more powerful engines to overcome drag and maintain established motorway speed, leads to an increase in the load cost per km. Speeds of 70 and 90 km/h are considered, and the calculations show that for fully laden transport, the specific cost increases considerably for low values of frontal area, and diminishes much less markedly as this value increases. With reduced loads, and the potential transport capacity unchanged, a greater frontal area can considerably increase the cost of transport. The paper is a translation (from Italian) from ATA, December 1968, 21 (12), 664-6. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Motor Industry Research Association

  Watling Street
  Nuneaton CV10 0TU, Warwickshire,   England 
• Authors:
  • Minervini, T
• Publication Date: 0

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures;

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Bus transportation; Buses; Freeways; Highway transportation; Load limits; Loads; Operating costs; Speed; Trucks; Wind
• ITRD Terms: 5492: Aerodynamics; 5567: Load; 1236: Lorry; 2752: Motorway; 221: Operating costs; 5408: Speed; 2554: Wind
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00145406
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: MIRA Trans. 14/69
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM