• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2015

There have been many attempts to reduce the cost of transportation. Especially, drag reduction of heavy vehicles has enormous influence on energy saving by reducing the driving power of the vehicles. In this study, the effects of drag-reducing additive devices such as side skirt, boat tail and cab-roof fairing on the drag reduction of a 5 ton truck model were experimentally investigated. The aerodynamic performance of these flow-control devices attached to heavy vehicle was evaluated through wind tunnel test. In addition, flow patterns around the truck model were visualized by using smoke tube method. The drag coefficient is reduced by up to 5.7%, 7.16% and 22.2% by the side skirt, boat tail and cab-roof fairing, respectively. The interactive effect of the side skirt and boat tail was also investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.8-13
• /
• 2023

The primary challenge in improving fuel efficiency and reducing air pollution for commercial vehicles is reducing their aerodynamic drag. Various flow control devices, such as cab-roof fairing, gap fairing, cab extender, and side skirt have been introduced to reduce drag, however, the drag reduction effect and applicability are different depending on each commercial vehicle model. To evaluate the fuel consumption of heavy vehicles, a comprehensive research approach, including drag force measurement, flow field analysis is required. This study investigated the effect of a cab extender, which installed rear region of cab, on a drag coefficient of commercial vehicle through wind tunnel experiments and CFD. The results showed that the cab extender significantly modified the flow structure around the vehicle, leading to 8.2% reduction in drag coefficient compared to the original vehicle model. These results would provide practical application for enhancing the aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency of heavy vehicle.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2022

A cab roof fairing is a device that reduces the drag coefficient of a commercial vehicle, by controlling the resistance of flow separation occurring in the front when the commercial vehicle travels. Commercial vehicles are designed to facilitate aerodynamic resistance that cannot be avoided from the driving direction of the vehicle, because they must structurally load containers in the rear. For this reason, it is closely related to oil costs and environmental pollutants. In this study, the 3D fairing shape was designed based on the Rankine half body theory, and the design results were verified through aerodynamic analysis.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.64-73
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to design a 3D fairing shape to reduce the air resistance of commercial vehicles. Rankine Half Body was applied to design the fairing shape, and the design was verified through aerodynamic analysis. Aerodynamic loads were calculated considering the speed conditions of commercial vehicles and gust conditions to ensure the structural safety of the fairing. A glass fibre/epoxy composite material was used to design a fairing structure that satisfied the safety factor 3. The structural safety of the lightest fairing was confirmed through structural analysis.