DRAG REDUCTIONS OBTAINED BY MODIFYING A BOX-SHAPED GROUND VEHICLE

A box-shaped ground vehicle was used to simulate the aerodynamic drag of high volume transports, that is, delivery vans, trucks, or motor homes. The coast-down technique was used to define the drag of the original vehicle, having all square corners, and several modifications of the vehicle. Test velocities ranged up to 65 miles per hour, which provided maximum Reynolds numbers of 1 times 10 to the 7th power based on vehicle length. One combination of modifications produced a reduction in aerodynamic drag of 61 percent as compared with the original square-cornered vehicle. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Flight Research Center
  Edwards AFB, CA  United States  93523
• Authors:
  • Saltzman, E J
  • Meyer, RRJ
  • Lux, D P
• Publication Date: 1974-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 29 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Drag factor (Chemistry); Motor vehicle bodies; Trucks
• Old TRIS Terms: Aerodynamic configurations; Automobile bodies; Drag factor
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080951
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NASA-TM-X-56027
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 6 1975 12:00AM