Aerodynamic Drag Reduction of Heavy Goods Vehicle

Lim, Wan Ni (2016) Aerodynamic Drag Reduction of Heavy Goods Vehicle. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Throughout the year, the fuel price fluctuates and increases. The fuel economy of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) was concerned by companies to save money. Reduction of aerodynamic drag on vehicles improves the fuel economy. Therefore, this project is to discuss about the reduction potential of drag acting on HGV by modifying the vehicle shape with aerodynamics devices. The research is done by simulating a scaled 2 dimensional (2D) model of HGV using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software, ANSYS. The model is meshed with inflation mesh and body size such as sphere of influence. The turbulent model used in this project is SST k-omega modelled as it can capture the flows over the HGV efficiently. The simulation of baseline model with cab fairing and boat tail was run separately with various angles to analyze the optimum design for aerodynamic devices. The final design for improved HGV is the combination of baseline model and the optimum aerodynamic devices. The results of pressure contour, velocity contour and velocity vector were analysed and study. Verification of the simulation data is done by conducting mesh convergence test on the baseline model. The result shows that the aerodynamics devices effectively reduce the drag acting on the HGV.