Drag Reduction of a Modern Straight Truck

Authors

Drew Landman, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Matthew Cragun, Old Dominion University
Mike McCormick, Old Dominion University
Richard Wood

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

DOI

10.4271/2011-01-2283

Publication Title

SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles

Volume

4

Issue

1

Pages

256-262

Abstract

A wind tunnel test program was conducted at the Langley Full Scale Tunnel (LFST) to evaluate the performance of five passive drag reduction configurations on a modern straight truck at full scale. Configurations were tested in a build-up fashion with results representing a cumulative effect. Tested configurations include a front valance, a front box fairing, a boat-tail, an ideal side-skirt, and a practical side-skirt. Configurations were evaluated over a nominal 9 degree yaw sweep to establish wind averaged drag coefficients using SAE J1252. Genuine replicate yaw sweeps were used in an uncertainty analysis. Results show up to 28% improvement in wind-averaged drag coefficient and that significant gains can be made in straight truck fuel economy, even at non-highway speeds. © 2011 SAE International.

Original Publication Citation

Landman, D., Cragun, M., McCormick, M., & Wood, R. (2011). Drag reduction of a modern straight truck. SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles, 4(1), 256-262. doi:10.4271/2011-01-2283

Repository Citation

Landman, Drew; Cragun, Matthew; McCormick, Mike; and Wood, Richard, "Drag Reduction of a Modern Straight Truck" (2011). Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications. 37.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/mae_fac_pubs/37