FKFS Veranstaltungen

2027 FKFS Conference on Vehicle Aerodynamics

and Thermal Management

13 - 14 October 2027 | Leinfelden-Echterdingen

Session: Aero Development | | 15:30 - 16:00

Developments in Road Testing Methods for Novel Drag Reduction Devices

Michael Gerard Connolly, University College Dublin

This study presents new developments into novel drag reduction devices for road vehicles, focusing on the use of inflatable and alternative material rear drag reduction devices that employ both a single and multi cavity approach. The effectiveness of these devices is assessed through on-road testing using constant power measurements to evaluate the resulting drag reductions. Surface pressure measurements collected during testing are compared with CFD predictions, using both RANS and HLES methods to evaluate how accurately pressure changes are modelled when the devices are fitted to the test vehicles. A novel method for analysing vehicle surface flow in real-world conditions is also introduced, involving the capture and processing of video-recorded tuft imagery to determine appropriate means and standard deviations for the surface flow behaviour. Additionally, the study presents the latest advancements in multi cavity drag reduction device design, along with considerations on how such devices can significantly enhance the benefits of vehicle platooning.