Numerical investigation of aerodynamic characteristics of generic pickup trucks

Abstract

In the present study, aerodynamic properties of modified generic pickup trucks were investigated by means of finite volume method. Steady, three-dimensional and turbulent flows over the pickup trucks were solved by standard k-epsilon turbulence model. An experimentally investigated two-dimensional pickup truck found in the open literature was used as a benchmark case and some modifications were done on it by closing the sides of the bed first. Then a tonneau was used to close the top of the box and finally, a canopy was used to cover the box completely from the tailgate to the cab roof. Simulations reveal that such modifications that were done on the reference case improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicles in terms of drag coefficient. With respect to the original case, the drag coefficient reduces approximately 50%, 30% and 20% by using a canopy, a tonneau and closing all sides except top of the bed. Such decreases in drag coefficient was achieved because every modification prevents the flow separation more effectively around the bed and behind the cab. Regardless of the shape of the bed, the drag coefficient decreases with increasing Reynolds (Re) number up to Re=120103. It seems that this is the critical Reynolds number since drag coefficient does not change considerably with Re any more.

Keywords

• Aerodynamics,Computational fluid dynamics,Ground vehicles,Pickup truck,Drag,Lift

Jenerik pikap kamyonetlerin aerodinamik karakteristiklerinin sayısal olarak incelenmesi

Öz

Bu çalışmada, modifiye edilerek oluşurulmuş kamyonetlerin aerodinamik özellikleri sonlu hacimler metodu ile incelenmiştir. Kamyonetler etrafındaki daimi, üç-boyutlu ve türbülanslı akışlar standart k-epsilon türbülans modeli ile çözülmüştür. Açık literatürde bulunan ve deneysel olarak iki-boyutlu-olarak incelenmiş bir kamyonet referans alınarak, kasası üzerinde bir takım modifikasyonlar yapılmıştır. Bunun için, kasanın yanlarının dışında, üst kısmı da düzlemsel bir yüzeyle örtülmüştür. Son olarak, kasanın üstü, yanlarıyla beraber kamyonet kasasından kabin üst yüzeyine kadar her tarafından tamamen kapatılmıştır. Yapılan simülasyonlar, referans araç üzerinde yapılan değişikliklerin, direnç katsayısı dikkate alındığında, araçların aerodinamik karakteristiklerini iyileştirdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Orijinal duruma nazaran aracın kabinden kasanın üstüne kadar kaplanmasıyla %50, kasanın arka, üst ve yanlarının kapatılmasıyla %30 ve sadece kasanın arka ve yanlarının kapatılıp üst tarafının açık bırakılmasıyla direnç değerinde, %20 düşüş sağlanmıştır. Dirençteki bu azalmaların sebebi, kasa etrafında ve kasa ile kabin arasındaki bölgede akış ayrılmasının önlenmesidir. Kasanın şekli ne olursa olsun, direnç katsayısı Reynolds (Re) sayısının Re=120103‘e kadar arttırılmasıyla azalmıştır. Bu değerden sonra direnç değerleri Re sayısıyla artık çok fazla değişmediği için bu değerin kritik Reynolds sayısı olduğu görülmüştür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Aerodinamik,Hesaplamalı akışkanlar dinamiği,Kara vasıtası,Pikap kamyonet,Direnç,Kaldırma

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