Roof Rack Research Articles

Investigating the aerodynamic effect of rooftop cargo compartment – a case of modified intercity bus

Buses are one mode of mass transportation but they are inefficient in terms of fuel consumption and ergonomically poor when loaded. Thus to decrease the fuel consumption, an improvement on the aerodynamic shape of the bus is required. This paper mainly focused on locally modified ISUZU buses which are serving as an intercity bus in Ethiopia. These buses are inefficient in terms of fuel consumption because of their body design and other add-on devices. One of the add-on devices which spoil the aerodynamic profile of this bus is the luggage loaded on the roof rack. Therefore, in this paper aerodynamically efficient rooftop luggage compartment is designed for these buses. The performance test is carried out for a scaled-down ISUZU bus model numerically using ANSYS Fluent CFD software and experimentally using wind tunnel testing. The numerical results are validated by an experimental test which is carried out using HM 170 open wind tunnel set-up. According to the numerical result, the modified bus reduced the drag coefficient by 34%, 34.5% and 34%, when compared to the clean roof baseline bus, the baseline bus with roof rack and the loaded baseline bus respectively. Similarly, the drag force is reduced by 12%, 14% and 32% respectively. In addition, the fuel consumption is reduced by 2.15 l h −1, 4.17 l h −1 and 7.24 l h −1 respectively. It is also found that the numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Overall, the modified bus is found to be more fuel saving and ergonomically better design.

Stan Is THE Van: Mobile Makerspace a Hit in Ohio

Stan the Tech Van is an experience on wheels belonging to Madison (OH) Public Library (MPL). It’s not just a 2022 Ram Promaster 2500 cargo van; it can hold an FDM 3D printer along with other tech on carts in the back. We chose a high roof delivery van to allow any staff member the ability to drive Stan for a program or event since it does not require a commercial driver’s license. Stan is outfitted with delivery shelving, a roof rack, and an awning package as well as a powered Gramps Aluminum Gated Commercial Van Ramp System. It’s more than a vehicle that holds enough LEGO Robotics that a staff member doesn’t have to clean out his or her car to get a classroom set out to a school. It’s a mobile makerspace that holds all types of machines that anyone can use to create all sorts of projects.

Computational Intelligence on High Rise Structure with Effect of Diverse Load Conditions

The construction of high-rise buildings all overthe world and India is overgrowing. Steel has more advantages in the modern world. Itprovidesan innovativeframe system, easy assembly, a high weight-to-weightratio,differentstrengths, and a more extensive section range. The high-rise structures are environmentally friendly, which iswhy steel is used in high-risebuildingsworldwide. So far, designers have only considered gravity when planning buildings. Earthquakes, wind, and lateral forces havebeen addedto the design. The challenge is to find the economic structure system of high-rise buildings in the Indian scenario. Thisdocument covers various structural steel systems: moment stabilization frame system, composite frame system, roof rack system with stabilizingbelt,shear wall frame system, frame tube system. When designing multi-storey buildings, truss systems, clusterpiping systems for high-rise buildings, lateral loads (wind or seismic loads) are mainly responsible for demolition, which usually determines structural systems for high-rise buildings. Tomake the drift asa minimum, the beams, and columns to beenlarged.In a building with a small number of floors,the lateral load rarely affects the increase in the building and the increase in size. Considering the live and dead loads, the component structureis an option for possible rearrangement of the structure. In other side load resistance systems under study, the side displacement in the torque frame is the highest. The lateral displacement ofthe double frame is the smallest, and the lateral displacement of the sliding wall system is slightly higher than that of the double system.

Shared Scars

Shared Scars Abby Manzella (bio) I share a scar with my father and brother.Our abdomens marked as kin.My father's a slicing long and wide,a question how life was resewn.My brother's, he says, "like bullet wounds,"and mine just dots, bleached-out stains. The genetic, the hereditary,the failures of the bodypassed from one to the next,aim indiscriminate and true.Fathers to sons, not the only path.An inheritance evading primogeniture.The gall of the vitriol,a pain like fireworks of stone.But there's progression in the science,diminished harm with knowledge. I learned from them,but the doctors said they learned mnemonically.Four Fs they said:female, family, forty, and fat.No insult intended to the woman before them,who defied the categories wielded,except their definitions of family. I do not know what my father (or his grandfather) felt.I do not know when he grasped the source.I did not yet exist.For my brother, it took weeks,but he, I saw, [End Page 285] not quite adult,slapping the steering wheelto cut the ache,extracting himself from his carwith hand to roof rack,the wracking hurt so great,the displacement insufficient.Still I cooled his head and called for help.The organ must goto deplete yellow from skin,to drain the pain from his eyes. We can survive with much less. When my turn came,I knew the smack of the heelagainst my bathroom floor to quell the agony.I knew.My mirrored eyes were my brother's.I thanked him for this knowledge,if not all my ancestors for the pain.Still my scar and quick solutioncame through their suffering.Their detriment, my benefit. This is family. [End Page 286] Abby Manzella Abby Manzella has taught and written on contemporary American literature and film, particularly as they relate to issues of race and gender, at the University of Missouri, Yeshiva University, Centre College, Tufts University, and the University of Virginia. She has been published in Feminist Studies, Frontiers, Women's Review of Books, Ms., BUST, and Literary Hub. Her book, Migrating Fictions: Gender, Race, and Citizenship in U.S. Internal Migrations, was named a Choice Reviews Outstanding Academic Title. She can be reached at abbymanzella@hotmail.com. Copyright © 2020 Abby Manzella

A Convergence Study through the Structural Analysis due to the Shape of Automotive Roof Rack

A Convergence Study through the Structural Analysis due to the Shape of Automotive Roof Rack

Streamlining influence on the long-haul trucks with an installed movable roof fairing performance properties teoretical studies

Influence streamlined elements located on the roof of the tractor main train such as the efficiency of the vehicle with installed no bonnet on it an advanced roof rack, which has the ability to adjust to any trailed warehouse. It has been assumed that it provides high levels of accuracy with respect to analogues due to the possibility of choosing the appropriate geometric parameters, provides ease of use and the ability to adjust the cushion during vehicle movement, prevents probable malfunctions during strong winds or hurricanes due to the strength of the drive management and modern electronic systems mechanical design. On the basis of theoretical studies of the main motor trains various tractors flow, the dependences of power and fuel consumption on the air traffic vehicle coefficient have been established at its movement speeds. It has been proven that it is advisable to use an advanced racing hub on precision drum trucks with small and medium-height cabs.

Fixing Trailer Hitch for Roof Rack of Cargos

This article presents a new technical solution of fixing trailer hitch which serves as a connection between single track vehicle and cargo, mainly light trailer. They are manufactured from steel girder and nets which are constructed by point welding. They are designed to indicate the necessary solidity and the required load bearing capacity of the cargo. The application of roof racks is universal and these products are in great demand in the field of game management. There are a lot of trailer hitches which the manufacturers tailor to customers´ demands. The stated technical solution is subject of published industrial utility model at the Industrial property office of the Slovak republic.

Fuel consumption impacts of auto roof racks

The after-market roof rack is one of the most common components attached to a vehicle for carrying over-sized items, such as bicycles and skis. It is important to understand these racks’ fuel consumption impacts on both individual vehicles and the national fleet because they are widely used. We estimate the national fuel consumption impacts of roof racks using a bottom-up approach. Our model incorporates real-world data and vehicle stock information to enable assessing fuel consumption impacts for several categories of vehicles, rack configurations, and usage conditions. In addition, the model draws on two new data-gathering techniques, on-line forums and crowd-sourcing. The results show that nationwide, roof racks are responsible for 0.8‰ of light duty vehicle fuel consumption in 2015, corresponding to 100 million gallons of gasoline per year. Sensitivity analyses show that results are most sensitive to the fraction of vehicles with installed roof racks but carrying no equipment. The aerodynamic efficiency of typical roof racks can be greatly improved and reduce individual vehicle fuel consumption; however, government policies to minimize extensive driving with empty racks—if successful—could save more fuel nationally.

A Market Scene Detection and Reinforcement of Large Roof Rack

A mall large roof rack has been used 17 years. Because of upgrade, addition of decorate load, and missing the original design drawings, the spatial site test and check calculation of bearing capacity will have to be done. Using some detection tools, we can get arrangement, size, displacement, deformation, etc. And we can sue 3d3s software of Tongji University to check the calculation of bearing capacity. Through calculation and analysis, put forward to the original network frame the whole pre-stressing reinforcement and part of steel reinforcement bar outsourcing way, satisfying the requirements of design and specification, and to avoid the welding process, shorten the construction period, and achieved good social benefits.

Fouling Behaviour of Porous Metals

Applications for porous materials range from structural materials to filters and acoustic absorbers. In many of these applications, e.g. silencers or air filters, the porous material is exposed to dirt. Fouling of filter materials and acoustic absorbers can change their characteristics by blocking pores, changing the pore morphology and decreasing the porosity. As parameters like trade efficiency and flow resistivity, that are important for the functionality of filters and acoustic absorbers, depend on the porosity and pore morphology, the fouling behaviour of porous materials is of major interest. In this study porous metals with different pore morphologies and porosities are investigated, such as microperforated panels, sintered fiber felts, metal foams and nanoporous superalloy membranes. The materials are mounted on a roof rack and polluted for a period of six month. The samples are periodically examined for changes in geometrical characteristics and flow resistivity. The materials are characterized using three dimensional CT-images as well as two dimensional microscopy images. Finally the correlation of geometrical characteristics, fouling behaviour and flow resistivity is outlined.

Impact of Vehicle add-ons on Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of vehicle add-ons on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly CO2) for commonly used fossil fuels in passenger car. Various commonly used vehicle add-ons (police siren, advertising sign, taxi sign and roof rack) and roof load (e.g., ladder and barrel) produce additional aerodynamic drag. To measure the aerodynamic drag produced by these add-ons a wind tunnel study was undertaken using a replica reduced scale model passenger car. The aerodynamic drag for different add-on configurations were measured for a range of vehicle operating speeds and yaw angles. The results show that the vehicle add-ons have notable impact on aerodynamic drag as they can generate 5% to 40% more aerodynamic drag depending on cross wind effects. The taxi sign has minimum impact and the advertising sign has highest impact on aerodynamic drag. Also roof load such as ladder and barrel can significantly increase the drag. The aerodynamic drag was related to a range of commonly used fuels e.g., petrol, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefying petroleum gas (LPG) consumption, and their relative CO2 gas emissions. The results indicate that for a given range, the emission of CO2 is the highest for the CNG due to its lowest energy density.

Hiding in Plain Sight

This article presents an overview of Google's autonomous car. There are three components that make Google’s driverless cars go: sensors, software, and Google’s mapping database. Most of these sensors are neatly tucked away in the car’s body rather than mounted, laboratory-style, on a roof rack. The exception is the rotating sensor mounted on the roof. It is a Velodyne high-density LIDAR—light detection and ranging—that combines 64 pulsed lasers into a single unit. The system rotates 10 times per second, capturing 1.3 million points to map the car’s surroundings with centimeter-scale resolution in three dimensions. This lets it detect pavement up to 165-feet ahead or cars and trees within 400 feet. Automotive radars, front and back, provide greater range at lower resolution. A high-resolution video camera inside the car detects traffic signals, as well as pedestrians, bicyclists, and other moving obstacles. The cars also track their positions with a GPS and an inertial motion sensor.

Reduction of roof rack noise and vibration

The noise and vibration design of automotive add-on component roof rack was investigated. Different modification options were evaluated which include mounting location alteration, mounting damping change and material revision. Results from experimental modal analysis and sound pressure spectrum measurement in a wind tunnel indicate the direction of design modification for reduction of the roof rack noise and vibration. The modal analysis and physical tests of wind tunnel proved to be good tools for evaluating and ranking roof rack noise and vibration performance.

Use of a small low-noise wind tunnel for determining the aeroacoustic noise produced by components on a vehicle

This paper describes an experimental method used to determine the aeroacoustic noise produced by a ‘roof rack’ placed on the roof of a vehicle. Testing was done on a vehicle roof positioned at the outlet jet of a small low-noise wind tunnel. A ‘simulated vehicle cabin’ was constructed beneath the vehicle roof that had similar absorption characteristics to an actual vehicle cabin. Sound pressure level measurements were made within the simulated vehicle cabin. The sound pressure level measurements were consistent with measurements made within the cabin of an actual vehicle in a large anechoic wind tunnel. The method could also be used to determine the in-cabin aeroacoustic noise produced by other vehicle accessories.

A harp trap for large megachriopterans

A harp trap for capturing large megachiropterans is described. The trap is portable and can be transported on a vehicle roof rack. It can be set up in 3h by three people and dismantled in half that time. Three species have been captured, Pteropus poliocephalus (n = 2327), P. alecto (n = 1509) and P. scapulatus (n = 780), with virtually no injuries.

Infrasound: Incidence and significance in motor cars

During the last two decades there has been much interest in the effects of infrasound on people. This is partly due to claims made by some scientists that infrasound could cause effects such as intestinal irritations, throbbing in the head, nervous breakdowns, certain allergies, and other unpleasant phenomena of modern life found in industrial cities. Early work [J. E. Green and F. Dunn, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 44, 144–145 (1968)] concluded a positive correlation between infrasonic thunderstorms and road accidents and other deviant behavior. Others have addressed the question “Does infrasound make drivers drunk?!” With the possible effects on road safety this paper aims to assess the incidence of infrasonics in transport environments with particular reference to European passenger cars. It was found that infrasonic sound pressure levels (ISPL) were proportional to vehicle speed, window opening, and vehicle size. Also driving with a fitted roof rack tended to increase ISPL by as much as 20 dB. It was also found that under most adverse driving conditions ISPL never exceeded 110 dB which is below human performance thresholds. It seems therefore that the original significance placed on the incidence of infrasound in cars was misplaced. Also it is concluded that further work needs to be done to establish the effects of exposure duration on human performance thresholds and to include the higher low frequencies as well. [Fundamental research project conducted by S. D.Haddad and Charles Marks at Loughborough University, England in 1980 with further investigations by S. D. Haddad concluded in 1983.]