FULL-SCALE TESTING OF DEVICES TO REDUCE SPLASH AND SPRAY FROM HEAVY TRUCKS

The overall objective of this study was to provide detailed full-scale measurements of the effectiveness of several splash and spray suppression devices on large trucks. Specific information is presented in 3 general areas: 1) the incremental and cumulative effects of adding more levels of spray suppression treatment, and using different types of products; 2) spray suppression differences as a function of truck type; and 3) the correlation between spray suppression differences for several flaps, as measured in the spray tunnel; and the measured spray cloud densities for the same flaps in a real world full-scale environment. The results showed that visibility can be improved incrementally by adding spray suppression devices (e.g., a drag shield on the tractor, or side skirts or "textured" flaps at the various wheel locations). The results also showed that combinations of devices can give a significant improvement in visibility for van semi-trailer configurations. A further result was that van semi-trailers are more amenable to treatment than tankers or flatbeds. Good correlation was found between spray tunnel results and full-scale results.

• Corporate Authors:

  Systems Technology, Incorporated

  13766 South Hawthorne Boulevard
  Hawthorne, CA  United States  90250

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • JOHNSON, W A
  • Stein, A C
  • HOGUE, J R
• Publication Date: 1985-1

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 86 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Measures of effectiveness; Splash guard; Splashing; Testing; Trucks; Visibility
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Spray control
• Old TRIS Terms: Sideguards
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment; I95: Vehicle Inspection;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452208
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: STI TR-1214-1 Final Rpt., HS-806 694
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-80-C-07078
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1986 12:00AM