Effects of Vehicle Type and Inter-Vehicle Distance on Aerodynamic Characteristics during Vehicle Platooning

Wootaek Kim,Jinwook Lee,Jongchan Noh

doi:10.3390/app11094096

Abstract

Considering the future development in vehicle platooning technology and the multiple models pertaining to complex road environments involving freight cars and general vehicles, the speed and distance of a vehicle model were set as variables in this study. This study aimed at analyzing the effect of currents acting differently using SolidWorks Flow Simulation tool for the vehicle platooning between different models of trucks that are currently being studied actively and sports utility vehicle (SUV) whose market share has been increasing, in order to evaluate the changes in the drag coefficient and their causes. Additionally, purpose-based vehicle (PBV) presented by Hyundai Motor (Ulsan, Korea) during the CES 2020 was considered. In this study, we found that the shape of the rear side of the leading vehicle reduces the drag coefficient of the following vehicle by washing the wake, similar to a spoiler at the rear. The rear side area of the leading vehicle forms a wide range of low pressures, which increases the drag coefficient effect of the following vehicle. The overall height of the leading vehicle also generates a distribution of low pressures above the rear of the vehicle. This reduces the impact of low pressures on the overall height of the following vehicle. The shape of the front of the following vehicle enables the wake of the leading vehicle, which involves low pressures, to inhibit the Bernoulli effect of the following vehicle. Furthermore, the front of the following vehicle continues to be affected by the wake of the leading vehicle, resulting in an increase in the drag coefficient reduction.

Highlights

Autonomous driving is a key technology for achieving future mobility
The vehicle models selected for this study were as follows: small sport utility vehicle (SUV), medium SUV, purpose-based vehicle (PBV), and trucks (Table 1)
We analyzed the aerodynamic characteristics of platooning using a SolidWorks Flow Simulation for four types of vehicles

Summary

Introduction

Autonomous driving is a key technology for achieving future mobility. Autonomous driving refers to the technology that enables a vehicle to operate on its own, even without direct inputs from the driver. Rapid advances in data processing and communication techniques, facilitated by the fourth industrial revolution, have improved the applicability of autonomous driving technology. Many global automobile companies are attempting to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous vehicles. Apart from ensuring driver convenience, autonomous driving should reduce unnecessary power consumption by regulating vehicle operation based on the traffic environment, it improves the energy efficiency of the vehicle. Medium to large-sized commercial vehicle manufacturers use “platooning” to reduce the front resistance of the following vehicle, which is generated due to the eddy currents generated at the rear side of the leading vehicle. Significant efforts have been devoted toward developing related technologies to improve the fuel economy by reducing the induced pressure resistance of the leading vehicle by under high pressures, thereby reducing the rear side vortex of the leading vehicle [1,2]

Objectives

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion