Method to Reduce Drag Coefficient for Fuel Efficiency in Semi-Truck Trailer and Trailer Stability

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu R. Nair ◽  
Fred Barez ◽  
Ernie Thurlow ◽  
Metin Ozen
Keyword(s):  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Rolling Resistance ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Improve Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Streamlined Body ◽  
External Forces

Heavy commercial vehicles due to their un-streamlined body shapes are aerodynamically inefficient due to higher fuel consumption as compared to passenger vehicles. The rising demand and use of fossil fuel escalate the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to the environment, thus more efficient tractor-trailer design becomes necessary to be developed. Fuel consumption can be reduced by either improving the driveline losses or by reducing the external forces acting on the truck. These external forces include rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. When driving at most of the fuel is used to overcome the drag force, thus aerodynamic drag proves an area of interest to study to develop an efficient tractor-trailer design. Tractor-trailers are equipped with standard add-on components such as roof defectors, boat tails and side skirts. Modification of these components helps reduce drag coefficient and improve fuel efficiency. The objective of this study is to determine the most effective geometry of trailer add-on devices in semi-truck trailer design to reduce the drag coefficient to improve fuel efficiency and vehicle stability. The methodology consisted of CFD analysis on Mercedes Benz Actros using ANSYS FLUENT. The simulation was performed on the tractor-trailer at a speed of 30m/s. The analysis was performed with various types of add-on devices such as side skirts, boat tail and vortex generators. From the simulation results, it was observed that addition of tractor-trailer add-on devices proved beneficial over modifying trailer geometry. Combination of add-on devices in the trailer underbody, rear and front sections was more beneficial in reducing drag coefficient as compared to their individual application. Improving fuel efficiency by 17.74%. Stability of the tractor-trailer is improved due to the add-on devices creating a streamlined body and reducing the low-pressure region at the rear end of the trailer.

Effect of Underbody Geometry on the Fuel Efficiency of Gasoline and Electric Vehicles

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishnaswamy Mahadevan ◽  
Fred Barez ◽  
Ernie Thurlow ◽  
Davood Abdollahian
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Drag Force ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Rolling Resistance ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Drag Forces ◽  
Pressure Region

Automotive industry in continuously expected to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. Increasing fuel prices and environmental concerns such as emission of CO2 are two areas in vehicle design improvement. There are multiple factors that affect the fuel economy such as rolling resistance, aerodynamic drag, and weight of the vehicle. As the speed of the vehicle increases, aerodynamic drag force becomes the dominating factor affecting the fuel consumption. This aerodynamic drag is a result of the low-pressure region created at the rear end of the vehicle. This low-pressure region is due to the relative square shape of the vehicle at the rear end which generates vortices. This project aims to investigate the effects of an underbody in reducing the aerodynamic drag forces and its effects on fuel usage. The underbody in vehicles is one such area in improving the aerodynamics of a vehicle which can have an impact on overall drag force. Various underbody geometry modifications were carried out on a 3D model of Fiat 500 Electric and Gasoline versions to simulate the effect of underbody geometry on fuel consumption using the CFD simulation tool ANSYS Fluent. It was concluded that the underbody of vehicle influences the overall aerodynamic drag by 20%. Underbody geometry modification helps in reducing the fuel consumption by decreasing the overall aerodynamic drag of the vehicle.

scholarly journals Numerical Study of the Generic Sports Utility Vehicle Design with a Drag Reduction Add-On Device

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shubham Singh ◽  
M. Zunaid ◽  
Naushad Ahmad Ansari ◽  
Shikha Bahirani ◽  
Sumit Dhall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drag Reduction ◽  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Mean Pressure ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag Coefficient ◽  
Total Base ◽  
Aerodynamic Parameters

CFD simulations using ANSYS FLUENT 6.3.26 have been performed on a generic SUV design and the settings are validated using the experimental results investigated by Khalighi. Moreover, an add-on inspired by the concept presented by Englar at GTRI for drag reduction has been designed and added to the generic SUV design. CFD results of add-on model and the basic SUV model have been compared for a number of aerodynamic parameters. Also drag coefficient, drag force, mean surface pressure, mean velocities, and Cp values at different locations in the wake have been compared for both models. The main objective of the study is to present a new add-on device which may be used on SUVs for increasing the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Mean pressure results show an increase in the total base pressure on the SUV after using the device. An overall reduction of 8% in the aerodynamic drag coefficient on the add-on SUV has been investigated analytically in this study.

CFD Analysis of Aerodynamic Drag Reduction in Heavy Vehicles by Changing its Frontal Area: Techinical Note

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hasen ◽  
S. Elangovan ◽  
M. Sundararaj ◽  
K.M. Parammasivam
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Rolling Resistance ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Frontal Area ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Design Engineers ◽  
Ansys Cfx ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag Reduction

Nowadays, fuel efficiency of heavy vehicles became an ultimate issue to the manufacturing and design engineers. The best approach to reduce the fuel consumption is to improve the aerodynamic performance of vehicle. This can be achieved by reducing the drag, because drag coefficient is directly proportional with the fuel consumption. Design engineers trying to improve the heavy vehicle’s performance by manipulating various parameters such as engine parameters, weigh, rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag. In this project, efforts were made to increase the aerodynamic performance by changing the frontal area of the container. Computational analysis was carried out at various velocities (50km/hr, 60km/hr, and 70km/hr) by changing the frontal area of the container in heavy vehicles. Different truck geometries were done using CATIA V5 and the simulations were done using ANSYS CFX software. Results were obtained and comparative studies were made. As a result of comparisons between various designs, the cowl of 2h dimension shows better results in reducing the drag when compared with the other designs.

Study of Aerodynamics on Indian Budget Concept Car

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lakshay Khera ◽  
Niraj Kumar ◽  
Ambrish Maurya
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Lift Force ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Technical Knowledge ◽  
Aerodynamic Design ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Computer Knowledge

Currently demand of Indian budget cars also called people’s car in India is in great demand and around 1 million cars have been sold in the last financial year with 12% increase of sales in every forthcoming year. These are categorized in sub 4m category of sedan, hatchbacks and medium size SUVs’ and their price ranges between 7 to 11 lakhs. The aerodynamics significantly affects the performance of the vehicle particularly at high speed. The manufactures are more focused on styling and giving a luxury look and other features of the car which sometimes make them to compromise on its aerodynamic design. This may lead to increase in fuel consumption at Indian road conditions. A cost-effective way to reduce fuel consumption, drag coefficient, lift force is to improve aerodynamic behavior and reduce the aerodynamic drag. The software used in this work is Solidworks, Ansys Fluent and commercial CFD post. Consequently, of using this software, it allows us to apply, learn and link technical knowledge of aerodynamics and computer knowledge.

A Study on the Aerodynamic Drag of a Non-Pneumatic Tire

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyeonu Heo ◽  
Jaehyung Ju ◽  
Doo-Man Kim ◽  
Sangwa Rhie
Keyword(s):  
Drag Force ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Rolling Resistance ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Viscoelastic Materials ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Pneumatic Tire ◽  
Rans Method ◽  
Pneumatic Tires

An understanding of the flow around a tire in contact with the ground is important for when designing a fuel efficient tire as aerodynamic drag accounts for about one third of an entire vehicle’s rolling loss [1]. Recently, non-pneumatic tires (NPTs) have drawn attention mainly due to their low rolling resistance associated with the use of low viscoelastic materials in their construction. However, an NPT’s fuel efficiency should be re-evaluated in terms of aerodynamic drag: discrete flexible spokes in an NPT may cause more aerodynamic drag, resulting in greater rolling resistance. In this study, the aerodynamic flow around an NPT in contact with the ground is investigated for i) stationary and ii) rotating cases using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method. The NPT has a more complex flow and a higher drag force than does the pneumatic counterpart.

scholarly journals Radical Reduction of Aircraft Fuel Consumption by Optimizing Aerofoil by New Evolutionary Algorithms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Muller
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Algorithms ◽  
Drag Reduction ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Fitness Function ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Consumption Reduction ◽  
Fluent Simulation ◽  
Radical Reduction

This work deals with aerofoil aerodynamic features optimization, not only to improve flight features, but also to improve economy, ecology and safety of parameters of flight technique. In cruise mission, occupying the most flight time, the most important parameter is aerodynamic drag, which directly influences the aeroplane operational economy of transportation. Drag reduction is adequately reflected in the fuel consumption reduction. Consumption reduction is also adequately reflected in the flight ecology. In take-off and landing mission, the safety is priority and directly influences the aerofoil geometry. For cruise mission the new modified evolutionary algorithms (EA) are used to parameters incoming to Bezier-PARSEC 3434 parametrization. Such aerofoil is processed and evaluated by the Xfoil program. The change of model parameters results to optimal aerofoil shape. The DCAG (Direct Control Aerofoil Geometry) is unique developed mechanical device, makes possible the change of curvature of aerofoil, and also aerofoil geometry. DCAG is based on the rotary principle, which makes it possible to define the curvature of aerofoil for every roll as well as defining the geometry in the variable parts of aerofoil. For take-off and landing mission the best combination of slots and flaps is choosed. To improve of laminarity and reduce turbulent flow the DCAG is used. The work results to optimization, which is 50 times faster in comparison to ordinary optimization, with minimum of input parameters (flight speed, chord length, range of angles of attack and fitness function). The optimized aerofoil can achieve savings in fuel consumption up to 44% in comparison with unoptimized aerofoil, the aerodynamic drag reduction up to 44%. The output was checked by ANSYS Fluent simulation.

scholarly journals A drag coefficient for application to the WLTP driving cycle

2017 ◽  
Vol 231 (9) ◽  
pp. 1274-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Howell ◽  
David Forbes ◽  
Martin Passmore
Keyword(s):  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Driving Cycle ◽  
Alternative Measure ◽  
Speed Distribution ◽  
Road Speed ◽  
Yaw Angle

The aerodynamic drag characteristics of a passenger car have, typically, been defined by a single parameter: the drag coefficient at a yaw angle of 0°. Although this has been acceptable in the past, it does not provide an accurate measure of the effect of aerodynamic drag on fuel consumption because the important influence of the wind has been excluded. The result of using drag coefficients at a yaw angle of 0° produces an underprediction of the aerodynamic component of fuel consumption that does not reflect the on-road conditions. An alternative measure of the aerodynamic drag should take into account the effect of non-zero yaw angles, and a variant of wind-averaged drag is suggested as the best option. A wind-averaged drag coefficient is usually derived for a particular vehicle speed using a representative wind speed distribution. In the particular case where the road speed distribution is specified, such as for a driving cycle to determine fuel economy, a relevant drag coefficient can be derived by using a weighted road speed. An effective drag coefficient is determined with this approach for a range of cars using the proposed test cycle for the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, WLTP. The wind input acting on the car has been updated for this paper using recent meteorological data and an understanding of the effect of a shear flow on the drag loading obtained from a computational fluid dynamics study. In order to determine the different mean wind velocities acting on the car, a terrain-related wind profile has also been applied to the various phases of the driving cycle. An overall drag coefficient is derived from the work done over the full cycle. This cycle-averaged drag coefficient is shown to be significantly higher than the nominal drag coefficient at a yaw angle of 0°.

Effects of an Underbody Device on the Characteristics of a Trailer Truck Wake Region

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ibrahim ◽  
M. Agelin-Chaab
Keyword(s):  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Bluff Body ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Bluff Bodies ◽  
Wake Region ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Recirculating Flow

The aerodynamics of bluff bodies and flow separation are encountered in many industrial applications. Flow separation causes significant pressure fluctuations that can yield undesirable effects such as vibration, noise, and drag. It is well-known that at highway speeds, over 50% of the fuel is used by a road vehicle to overcome aerodynamic drag. Due to these reasons, bluff body aerodynamics has been the subject of intensive research interests for many decades. In this paper, a new concept of an underbody aerodynamic device is used to modify the turbulent wake region of a bluff body. In particular, the underbody device was designed in order to allow for the recirculating flow to reattach and exit the underside of the bluff body while increasing the average speed of the flow and preventing side winds from disturbing the flow. This significantly reduces the underbody recirculation zone, which is a major source of drag. In addition, this ensures that the flow exits with minimum turbulence to reduce the size of the bluff body’s wake. The studies were conducted using the RANS based turbulence model, k-ω SST in ANSYS Fluent. A width-based Reynolds number of 1.1 × 106 was used to conduct the simulations in order to validate the baseline model with NASA’s wind tunnel data; which include the surface pressure coefficients and a drag coefficient. The paper focuses on the changes in the model’s wake that were introduced due to the device and their influence on the underside flow. The results showed that the device significantly reduced the recirculation at the underside of the bluff body. This was found to increase the coefficient of pressure at the base of the model, which reduced the size of the wake. These changes in the flow field resulted in an overall drag coefficient reduction of 4.1%.

Effects of Tire Rolling Resistance on Vehicle Fuel Consumption

1975 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. Crum ◽  
R. G. McNall
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Fuel Economy ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Rolling Resistance ◽  
Measurement Precision ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Control Measurement ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
And Control ◽  
Reliable Testing

Abstract Variation in the effects of tire rolling resistance on passenger car fuel consumption seldom exceeds ten percent. The definition of these effects is therefore a problem in experimental design and control, measurement precision, and careful accounting for uncontrolled variables. A rolling resistance test conducted on a road surface with a fully instrumented tire test trailer is described and the test results presented. Fuel “economy” test techniques are discussed with emphasis on precautions and recommendations for reliable testing and test results presented. When aerodynamic drag is taken into account with wind tunnel measurements, the results are suggestive of engine characteristic curves.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document