Rolling Road Wind Tunnel To Improve Aerodynamics of Class 8 Trucks

[MetroMPG]

Interesting read about big truck aero testing and the differences in drag measurements resulting from static vs. rolling road wind tunnel testing.

Rolling Road Wind Tunnel To Improve Aerodynamics of Class 8 Trucks
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007...g-road-wi.html

My favourite line in the article: "Aerodynamics as a competitive differentiator." Aero is starting to become a metric that truck buyers are paying attention to and manufacturers are marketing. Here's hoping that consciousness spreads to the automotive market...

[trebuchet03]

I want to see the Colani semi truck concept in there

[MetroMPG]

Yeah. The Volvo and Izusu too:

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread....ghlight=Colani

We seem to be stuck with incremental improvements.

[ezeedee]

owners of big trucks are much more fuel economy concious that 99% of the population.

have any of you ever seen the honey comb blinds? (the automatic retracting ones? with no strings, you just push it up and it stays?) i was thinking the other day, it would save a bit of aerodynamics to attatch one of those to the leading edge of the trailer, and to the back of the truck. theres usually a 3 foot gap or more between the back of the truck and the front of the trailer, thats lots of room for air to sneak in and disrupt airflow.

[Bill in Houston]

Yeah, I have thought of that too. Something that would flex but would sort of inflate to an aero shape at speed.

[skewbe]

Don't forget an inflatable boat tail.

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread....+tail#post7044

[gamby]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

I want to see the Colani semi truck concept in there

I guess that design wouldn't be too desirable when it came to actual function (according to a truck driver on another forum I'm on when this discussion came up).

Taking Colani's principles and simplifying them a bit still seems like a valid idea. Improving the aero of trucks is a lot cheaper than engineering a new engine, isn't it???

So much fuel could be saved by more efficient trucks, it boggles the mind. Good to see Volvo and Isuzu stepping up.

that said, Luigi Colani is a true visionary/genius.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by gamby

Taking Colani's principles and simplifying them a bit still seems like a valid idea. Improving the aero of trucks is a lot cheaper than engineering a new engine, isn't it???

That's typical of a concept vehicle Probably if the cab designed headed in a more traditional sense, it would be much more acceptable.

Yeah, it would be much cheaper than a new engine

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Originally Posted by skewbe

Don't forget an inflatable boat tail.

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread....+tail#post7044

That is a great idea. The hostler can just deflate it for the dock, and air compressors for load protection are already present for inflation. No need to even run lines from the onboard compressor.

[rvanengen]

I asked a friend who is a longtime truck driver (and owner operator)...and his response was the trucking companies (at least the ones owning the trailers) could care less what it actually costs the drivers for fuel...and when you figure the incredible amount of inventory that is being "warehoused" in extra trailers nationwide and on the railroads, it isn't likely to happen anytime soon to see any improvements or changes in the trailers. He did say that the area between the cab and trailer has been experimented with many times, but ultimately, it gets down to utility and durability winning out.