Prediction of 3-dimensional turbulent flows around corner vane of a heavy-duty truck cab

Abstract

The aerodynamic characteristics of large trucks have become more and more important in recent vehicle designs. Good aerodynamics improve performance in high-speed cruising and increase driving comfort. Hence, detailed knowledge of the flow field around corner vanes is essential to improved fuel efficiency and reduced dirty contamination on the vehicle body surface. In this study, 3-dimensional flow characteristics around a corner vane attached to a truck cab were computed for steady, incompressible, and high-speed viscous flow, adopting a RNG κ-e turbulence model. In order to investigate the influence of corner van configuration and structure, computations and actual diving tests were carried out for four different cases at a high Reynolds number, Re=4.1 x 106 (based on the cab height). The aerodynamic behaviour of global flow around the corner vane was examined. As a result of this study, we could identify the flow characteristics such as drag coefficient and mass flow rate passing the corner vane as a function of variation in the configuration and vane structure. Also, an improved corner vane structure is suggested to reduce dirt contamination on the cab sides.