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Skin-friction topology on tail plate for tractor—trailer truck drag reduction

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Abstract

A simple base device called tail plate (TP) is described, which is installed behind a generic tractor—trailer truck model to reduce the pressure drag. The effect of the backward-facing step height between the top surface of the trailer and the TP on the drag reduction is studied. The drag reduction is achieved for all the tested TP configurations in a range of the Reynolds numbers. Emphasis is placed on elucidating the physical mechanism behind the drag reduction by the TP based on global luminescent oil-film (GLOF) skin-friction diagnostics. The topological structures on the TP reveal that the drag reduction results from the highly three-dimensional flow reattachment on the TP.

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Author notes

  1. S. Woodiga

    Present address: Ford Motor Company, Allen Park, MI, 48101, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Western Michigan University, G-217, Parkview Campus, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA

    S. Woodiga, D. M. Salazar, P. Wewengkang, J. Montefort & Tianshu Liu

Authors
  1. S. Woodiga
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  2. D. M. Salazar
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  3. P. Wewengkang
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  4. J. Montefort
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  5. Tianshu Liu
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Correspondence to Tianshu Liu.

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Woodiga, S., Salazar, D.M., Wewengkang, P. et al. Skin-friction topology on tail plate for tractor—trailer truck drag reduction. J Vis 21, 1017–1029 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-018-0506-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-018-0506-2

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