Abstract
An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the effects of vane-type vortex generators in affecting the flow pattern of the wake region using a 1:20 scale tractor-trailer model. The de Haviland wind tunnel of the University of Glasgow was employed in this study. Surface oil flow visualisation, smoke visualisation and two-component time-averaged particle image velocimetry measurements were used for flow diagnostics. Experimental data showed that putting the vortex generators near the front end of the trailer model could reduce the size of the vortex in the wake region. In addition, it was observed that the use of the vane-type vortex generators at the front of the trailer model might change the shear layer angle so that a smaller wake region was formed downstream of the trailer. No obvious effects of wake flow control could be observed by placing the vortex generators near the rear end of the trailer model. Finally, it was found that the vane-type vortex generator with the vane height of 6mm is more effective in achieving wake flow control than the one with the vane height of 4mm.
Highlights
Lorries play a major role in daily domestic freight transportation within the United Kingdom
An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the effects of the vane-type vortex generators in affecting the flow characteristics downstream of the rear end of a 1:20 square back tractor-trailer model
Smoke visualisation and two-component particle image velocimetry measurements were used for flow diagnostics
Summary
Lorries play a major role in daily domestic freight transportation within the United Kingdom. Due to the fact that all HGVs have considerably blunt shapes, these vehicles encounter high level of aerodynamics drag during high speed operations. Bradley, (2000) concluded that about 21% of losses come from aerodynamics drag for a heavy vehicle weighting 36 t operating at 105 km/h. Altaf et al (2014) stated that due to the poor aerodynamics efficiency of lorries and buses, up to 65% of fuel is consumed to overcome the aerodynamic drag encountered by these vehicles in longhaul journeys. It is anticipated that a significant amount of fuel could be saved by improving the aerodynamic efficiency of heavy vehicles (Bradley, 2000; Altaf et al, 2014). (Bradley, (2000)
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