Aerodynamics Of Road Vehicles

Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles details the aerodynamics of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, sports cars, and race cars; their external flow field; as well as their internal flow field. The book, after giving an introduction to automobile aerodynamics and some fundamentals of fluid mechanics, covers topics such as the performance and aerodynamics of different kinds of vehicles, as well as test techniques for their aerodynamics. The book also covers other concepts related to automobiles such as cooling systems and ventilations for vehicles. The text is recommended for mechanical engineers and phycisists in the automobile industry who would like to understand more about aerodynamics of motor vehicles and its importance on the field of road safety and automobile production.

The detailed presentation of fundamental aerodynamics principles that influence and improve vehicle design have made Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles the engineer’s “source” for information. This fifth edition features updated and expanded information beyond that which was presented in previous releases. Completely new content covers lateral stability, safety and comfort, wind noise, high performance vehicles, helmets, engine cooling, and computational fluid dynamics. A proven, successful engineering design approach is presented that includes: • Fundamentals of fluid mechanics related to vehicle aerodynamics • Essential experimental results that are the ground rules of fluid mechanics • Design strategies for individual experimental results • General design solutions from combined experimental results The aerodynamics of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, sports cars, and race cars is dealt with in detail, inclusive of systems, testing techniques, measuring and numerical aerodynamics methods and simulations that significantly contribute to vehicle development. Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles is an excellent reference tool and an indispensable source for the industry’s vehicle engineers, designers, and researchers, as well as for enthusiasts, students, and those working in academia or government regulatory agencies.

This book provides an introduction to ground vehicle aerodynamics and methodically guides the reader through the various aspects of the subject. Those needing specific information or a refresher can easily jump to the material of interest. There is a particular emphasis on various vehicle types (passenger cars, trucks, trains, motorcycles, race cars, etc.). However, the book is focused on cars and trucks, which are the most common vehicles in the speed range in which the study of ground vehicle aerodynamics is beneficial. Readers will gain a fundamental understanding of the topic, which will help them design vehicles that have improved aerodynamics; this will lead to better fuel efficiency, improved performance, and increased passenger comfort. The author’s basic approach to the presentation of the material is complemented with review questions, application questions, exercises, and suggested projects at the end of most of the chapters, which helps the reader apply the information presented, either in the classroom or for self-study. Aside from offering a solid understanding of ground vehicle aerodynamics, the book also offers more thorough study of several key topics. One such topic is car-truck interaction, when one vehicle (usually the smaller one) is overtaking the other. There is a direct and instant benefit in terms of safety on the highway from understanding the forces at play when one vehicle passes the other in the same direction and sense. Chapters examine: • Drag • Noise and vehicle soiling • Wind tunnels and road/track testing • Numerical methods • Vehicle stability and control • Vehicle sectional design • Large vehicles: trucks, trailers, buses, trains • Severe service and off-road vehicles • Race cars and convertibles • Motorcycles • Concept vehicles

These Proceedings contain the papers and oral discussions presented at the Symposium on AERODYNAMIC DRAG MECHANISMS of Bluff Bodies and Road Vehides held at the General Motors Research Laboratories in Warren, Michigan, on September 27 and 28, 1976. This international, invitational Symposium was the twentieth in an annual series, each one having been in a different technical discipline. The Symposia provide a forum for areas of science and technology that are of timely interest to the Research Laboratories as weIl as the technical community at large, and in which personnel of the Laboratories are actively involved. The Symposia furnish an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and current knowledge between participating research specialists from educational, industrial arid governmental institutions and serve to stimulate future research activity. The present world-wide energy situation makes it highly desirable to reduce the force required to move road vehicles through the atmosphere. A significant amount of the total energy consumed for transportation is expended in overcoming the aerodynamic resistance to motion of these vehicles. Reductions in this aerodynamic drag can therefore have a large impact on ground transportation energy requirements. Although aerodynamic development work on road vehides has been performed for many years, it has not been widely reported or accompanied by much basic research.

This text provides a comprehensive introduction to road vehicle aerodynamic design for students, engineers and designers working in the automotive field.

Modifying the Aerodynamics of Your Road Car is a unique handbook that assumes no starting knowledge of vehicle aerodynamics. It begins with simple ideas and finishes with sophisticated and effective aerodynamic modifications that work. Three major chapters cover on-road testing techniques that give you all the information you need to decide what modifications you should make - and, after you’ve made them, how well they work. Low-cost techniques allow you to visualize the patterns of airflow over your car so that you can actually see the problem areas that need improvement. Uniquely, you’re also shown how to measure aerodynamic pressures, so you can determine which body surfaces are creating lift, drag and downforce. Want to work out where a wing should be placed? On-road testing to find that out is covered as well. The book also shows you how to measure downforce to see if that wing is actually working! If you wish to reduce drag, more than ten different areas are covered. Reducing frontal area, lowering cooling system drag, optimizing vehicle ride height and rake, reducing the strength of the wake, achieving clean airflow separation and optimizing wheel designs are all covered using the latest research findings. And if you’re a performance driver, there’s a major chapter devoted to reducing lift and improving stability. This chapter includes the design and development of undertrays and diffusers, wings and spoilers. The example car developed measurable downforce when fitted with an undertray and rear diffuser, something that transformed its on-road handling. The author has been writing about the aerodynamics of road cars for more than 25 years. He is also an experienced and proficient car modifier who has performed numerous aerodynamic modifications and upgrades to his own cars. The book’s technical consultant, RH Barnard, is an acknowledged world leading automotive aerodynamicist. If you want a practical, hands-on guide that demystifies and explains car aerodynamics, and shows you how to make effective aerodynamic modifications to your car, this book is for you.

A comprehensive introduction for students, practising automotive engineers and designers, and anyone with a general interest in the subject. Intended to be affordable by students. Unnecessary details or highly vehicle-specific information has been omitted, but a comprehensive list of references is given, usually with a summary.

This volume contains papers presented at the International conference “The Aerodynamics of Heavy Vehicles III: Trucks, Buses and Trains” held in Potsdam, Germany, September 12-17, 2010 by Engineering Conferences International (ECI). Leading scientists and engineers from industry, universities and research laboratories, including truck and high-speed train manufacturers and operators were brought together to discuss computer simulation and experimental techniques to be applied for the design of more efficient trucks, buses and high-speed trains in the future. This conference was the third in the series after Monterey-Pacific Groove in 2002 and Lake Tahoe in 2007.The presentations address different aspects of train aerodynamics (cross wind effects, underbody flow, tunnel aerodynamics and aeroacoustics, experimental techniques), truck aerodynamics (drag reduction, flow control, experimental and computational techniques) as well as computational fluid dynamics and bluff body, wake and jet flows.