Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles

-Nagaraja Bhagav (19AE60R15)

When an object move through air, due to relative motion between object surfaces and air some forces are generated.
The study of these forces generated by the motion of air is called Aerodynamics. Aerodynamics finds major
applications in aviation industry. All the aircrafts are designed aerodynamically efficient to get better performance.
Now a days it is one of the most important design criteria of road vehicles. Aerodynamics finds most of its
applications in lighter and high performance road vehicles and its application is limited in case of heavy road
vehicles.

History and evolution of aerodynamics

Car design in 1920
Cars in 1920s were bulkier in appearance. The cruise speed of the cars was very less. The engines were not powerful
to have higher speed. So aerodynamics was not in picture for design. These designs are such that to protect
passengers from outside environment, so these had more frontal area and are non-streamlined.

Car design in 1950

By the implementation of aerodynamics, the drag was reduced to 40%. Again it was seen that drag was increasing
due to bulkier design. Although aerodynamics was implemented they were not able to design streamlined outer
body. Because cars were designed for bigger families. These are family friendly cars. The frontal area of the cars
was rectangular.

Car design in 1970

There was a fuel crisis in 1970 and the numbers of road vehicles were increasing. There was a demand for more
efficient and economical cars. The actual implementation of aerodynamics was started from 1970. The outer
appearance of cars was started to change into streamlined from bulk shape.

Present design
Now a days almost all cars are manufactured aerodynamically for having good looking, stylish and fuel efficient car.

Aerodynamics of car
When a car is moving forward, the air approaching at the front get compressed. As a result the pressure and density
increases in the front. The upper surface area of car is more than lower. So the air gets accelerated over upper
surface in larger extent. According to Bernoulli’s principle, for subsonic flows as velocity increases the pressure
must decrease. There is a difference in pressure distribution over the upper and lower surfaces. This gives net
upward force. As the flow continues on the upper surface due to adverse pressure gradient, it loses its energy and
gets separated from the surface. This creates some vacuum region at the rear end of the vehicle. This is the region of
low pressure. The pressure at the front is higher than rear. This difference in pressure gives net backward force
(drag). In the region of wheels, due to interaction between rotating wheels and air it creates some turbulent flow.
This again increases the total drag. So the non-aerodynamically designed vehicle generates a positive lift and more
drag and both are non-favourable for a road vehicle.

Aerodynamics of heavy vehicles

In heavy goods vehicles there is a gap between tractor and trailer. When it is in motion, air gets filled in this gap and
creates turbulent region. At the rear end flow separates and again it adds drag. These vehicles have sharp edges and
these causes flow separation.
Design modifications to reduce drag
Spoilers
These are the small devices fitted at the rear end of the car. It spoils the airflow over the surface and deflects the
airflow. This generates downward force and reduces lift.

Wings
The purpose of wings in aircrafts is to generate positive lift and these are most aerodynamic efficient devices. But
the wings are used to get negative lift in road vehicles. The wings are placed upside down. At higher speeds, the
vehicle can generate sufficient amount of lift and may end up with a crash. To avoid this, negative lift has to be
generated. The inverted wings generates sufficient amount of downward force to nullify the lift. The wings are fitted
with end plates to minimize loses. Wings are widely used in high speed cars.

Vortex generator
These are the serrations with some angle are fitted at the rear end of the vehicles. Due to adverse pressure gradient
flow separates and it increases drag. The flow out of boundary layer effect has high energy. Vortex generators
generates vortex and adds energy to the boundary layer to delay flow separation.

Wheel covers
Due to interaction air with rotating wheels it creates turbulent region around the wheels. To avoid this and allow the
flow smoothly, smooth wheel covers are used. But the major problem with this device is it prevents airflow to
braking system and braking system heats up quickly.

Cab top deflectors

These are widely used in heavy goods vehicles. Deflectors are fitted on the tractor at a particular angle to guide the
flow to trailer smoothly. It prevents the air to fill the gap and reduces drag.

Boattails
These are tapered devices fitted at the rear end of heavy vehicles to guide the flow. It avoids the creation of
turbulent region due to flow separation. By the implementation of boattails it is observed that drag is reduced by
7.5%.

Advantages of aerodynamics in road vehicles

 More fuel efficiency
 Higher speeds
 Good Aesthetic and stylish in appearance
 More stability of vehicles at higher speeds
 Reduced noise level

Summary
If the vehicle is not designed aerodynamically it experiences more drag and may generate sufficient upward force
which can lift the vehicle at higher speeds. Most of the engine power generated will be lost to overcome drag force.
With implementation of aerodynamics, the drag reduces and less engine power is sufficient to run the vehicle. So
the efficiency increases. This extra power can be used to achieve higher speeds. Also these devices improve stability
at higher speeds. With the implementation of aerodynamic devices it is observed that at highway speeds the drag of
heavy vehicles is reduced by 20% and this improves fuel efficiency by 10%.