Work

Developments in Drag Reduction Methods and Devices for Road Vehicles

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study presents new developments in novel drag reduction devices for road vehicles, focusing on the use of inflatable and alternative material rear drag reduction devices that employ both a single- and multi-cavity approach. The effectiveness of these devices is assessed through on-road testing using constant power measurements to evaluate the resulting drag reductions. Surface pressure measurements collected during testing are compared with CFD predictions, using both the RANS and HLES methods to evaluate how accurately pressure changes are modelled when the devices are fitted to the test vehicles. A novel method for analysing vehicle surface flow in real-world conditions is also introduced, involving the capture and processing of video-recorded tuft imagery to determine appropriate means and standard deviations for the surface flow behaviour. Additionally, the study presents the latest advancements in multi-cavity drag reduction device design, along with considerations on how such devices can significantly enhance the benefits of vehicle platooning.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app15179693

Authors: Michael Gerard Connolly, Alojz Ivankovic, Malachy J. O’Rourke

Institution: University College Dublin

Language: English

Topic: Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics Research

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896