IMPROVING ARTIC AERODYNAMICS

Research into improving the aerodynamics of articulated vehicles being carried out by General Motors is discussed. Early tests with an open-sided dragfoiler deflector mounted on a tractor roof to deflect air over the trailer gave a 20 per cent drag reduction and a 13 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. Wind tunnel tests indicated that modifications were needed to improve airflow so that the dragfoiler was given a narrower nose and concave-convex side panels resulting in drag reductions of 36 per cent. Further modifications were made in order to optimise the shape for variation in trailer gap and exposed height. Wind tunnel tests showed that the drag reduction was still satisfactory at large yaw angles of 15 deg. Practical evaluation of the dragfoiler design was provided in commercial service where it was found to give an overall reduction in fuel consumption averaging 9 per cent. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03076490
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Mechanical Engineers

  1 Birdcage Walk
  London SW1H 9JJ,   England 
• Authors:
  • Baker, A
• Publication Date: 1976-10-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 39-41
• Serial:
  • AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • ISSN: 0307-6490

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Design; Drag; Evaluation and assessment; Fuel consumption; Operating costs; Trailers; Wind tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Articulated vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 5492: Aerodynamics; 1225: Articulated vehicle; 9011: Design (overall design); 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 232: Fuel consumption; 221: Operating costs
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149020
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 17 1977 12:00AM