Aerodynamic design optimization of locally built FSR Isuzu bus through numerical simulation

Abstract

Reducing the fuel consumption of commercial vehicles—especially those used for public transportation—has become increasingly important due to advancements in the automotive industry. On the other hand, the main disadvantages of buses and other commercial vehicles are their fuel consumption, exhaust pollutants, and crosswind stability. Most buses built in Ethiopia have aerodynamic rectangular shapes and strong drag resistance forces, which lead to higher fuel consumption. One of the most accessible buses in Ethiopia is the FSR Isuzu Bus; its external body is locally constructed and has a poor aerodynamic shape. The primary goal of this study is to reduce aerodynamic drag force by improving the outer body shape of the current FSR Isuzu Bus. It also aims to examine the impact of roughness (strip) on the overall aerodynamic characteristics of the bus when it encounters crosswinds, thereby reducing fuel consumption, roll moment, and side force. For computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, ANSYS Fluent is used, and Solidwork is used to model the bus body. A comparison is made between the current CFD analysis of the bus body and the modified design at varying speeds. Three separate models are used in the analysis. At an average speed of 100 kmph, 29.58% (4 to 5 liters) of fuel can be saved, and the drag force is reduced by roughly 49.7% when comparing the new concept to the current bus. By utilizing a strip on the bus’s roof, the side force coefficient and the roll moment coefficient are subsequently reduced from model two to model three by 8.76% and 9.01%, respectively. The study’s conclusions indicate that the external body shape changes have reduced drag; and, adding roof strips has decreased drag to acceptable level and enhanced crosswind stability.