Optimal Design of an Ecofriendly Pickup Truck Overhang and Roof to Reduce the Drag Coefficient

Autor: Min Seok Kim, Yein Bang, Jongwon Kim, Taek Keun Kim
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Applied Sciences, Vol 14, Iss 11, p 4667 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2076-3417
DOI: 10.3390/app14114667
Popis: Until now, various studies have been conducted on the drag coefficient of pickup trucks, but little research has been conducted on the effect of the front overhang length and roof design on the drag coefficient. In this study, the flow characteristics and drag coefficients of 54 models with different front overhang lengths, roof angles, and angular positions were compared using a computational fluid dynamics code to reduce the drag coefficient of an eco-friendly pickup truck. Reducing the aerodynamic drag of electric vehicles can improve battery utilization and improve the overall performance of the powertrain, so it is important to analyze and optimize geometric design steps to improve drag reduction strategies. The three-dimensional steady-state analysis model used in this study was verified by comparing the model results with experimental values reported in previous studies. In addition, the impacts of four factors on the drag coefficient were analyzed to develop an optimal design that takes into account smaller and better characteristics. The drag coefficient was reduced by 10.3% compared to that of the base model. Based on the numerical analysis of all models to be applied to pickup truck design, a correlation of the drag coefficient with the shape was proposed, showing a low error range of +1.9% to −1.74%.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals