Posted on 04/17/2008 1:33:38 PM PDT by Red Badger
Creating an improved aerodynamic shape for heavy-duty truck trailers by mounting sideskirts can cut fuel consumption and emissions by up to 15%, according to road testing by the Dutch research partnership PART (Platform for Aerodynamic Road Transport). PART is a partnership between TU Delft, TNT, Scania Beers BV, FOCWA Carrosseriebouw, Ephicas, Kees Mulder Carrosserieën, Van Eck Carrosseriebouw, Syntens, Squarell Technology, Emons Group and NEA.
Sideskirts are plates which are mounted on the sides of trailers, primarily with a view to underrun protection. The new aerodynamic design of the sideskirts substantially reduces the air currents alongside and under the trailer and thereby also the air resistance.
Initial driving tests with a trailer equipped with the aerodynamic sideskirts over a straight stretch of public road revealed a cut in fuel consumption of between 5% and 15%. Subsequent research comprising long-term operational tests by TNT displayed a fuel reduction of 10%.
These results confirm calculations and findings from the wind tunnel tests that had established that the observed 14 - 18% reduction in air resistance led to 7 - 9% less fuel consumption. In practice, the figures are in fact even better.
PART expects that the cost of fitting aerodynamically-shaped sideskirts will be recouped within two years. Furthermore, the sideskirts can be fitted to approximately half the trucks currently in use in the Netherlands as the skirts can also be retrofitted.
In 2005, 10,000 new trailers were taken into use in the Netherlands. With an average fuel consumption of 30 liters per 100 kilometers [7.8 mpg US], that translates into 750 million liters of diesel consumption in the Netherlands each year. We can cut fuel consumption by 5% or more for 50% of those trailers. That means a reduction of 50 million tons of CO2 emissions a year. This research can therefore result in a substantial, structural contribution to cutting fuel consumption and an annual saving of tens of millions of Euros, next to that cut in CO2 emissions by the road transport sector.
Together with this sector we have created a practical platform for further research and development, but we still need active government participation. Just obtaining permits for all the road tests has involved a huge amount of time, energy and frustration. The next step is realizing a practical partnership between the government and industry in order to put the solutions into practice. —Prof. Michel van Tooren of TU Delft’s Aerospace Engineering faculty
Road tests have also already been initiated on boat tails. These constructions on the rear of a trailer ensure a reduction in the wake—the vacuum and air currents which arise when the trailer is moving. In theory, a boat tail could also mean a cut in air resistance of 30%, with a fuel reduction of 10 - 15%. These road tests should also confirm the earlier, highly positive results from the windtunnel.
Boat tails, however, are limited in practical use, in particular when loading and unloading—safety aspects and problems with exceeding maximum vehicle sizes prevent these being used for many types of vehicles.
![](http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:R8sR7daexSBGmM:www.ted-kyte.com/3D/Pictures/Spark%2520Plug.jpg";)
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....
If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....
WITH THE HIGH COST OF DIESEL FUEL TODAY, TRUCKER FREEPERS MAY WANT TO ADD SOME OF THESE, EVEN IF HOMEMADE, TO THEIR RIGS!.......................15% IS A BIG DEAL!!.............
SAVE SOME MONEY ON THE ROAD KNOCK!!!!!...............
If it stops the trucks from blinding me in the rain, I am all for it.
I CANNOT BELIEVE IT TOOK THIS LONG FOR SOMEBODY TO COME UP WITH THIS!!...
LOL - stop yelling at me.
From the picture in the article, they are rigid - that poses a problem on hills.
But you are correct - it is a no-brainer.
Yeah, I’d like to see that after the first re-tread lets go and explodes.
They should get better retreading technology. I was almost hit by a fragment on the interstate once.........
IN countries that drive on the right, driver side roadside flats are going to get a lot more complicated to fix.
They’ve had pretty much the same thing on full size RV’s for years, the added outside storage compartments. Can’t believe no one thought of this before now.
And what will action movie directors do now in their fast convertibles chase scenes?
... or when he throws a tire chain...
THey probably fold up for service....
Well, if they’re built right, they’ll contain the debris and unfortunate car drivers won’t get flying debris through the windshield.
And now they need to realize that they should stop trying to shove all that air up and over the top of the truck, and push it along the sides. Ford came out with a concept tractor that did this, and their studies indicated doing so would increase mileage by some 14%, but nothing ever came of it.
Wishful thinking, they aren't going to be making it out of 1/4" steel. More like fiberglass or lightweight aluminum panels. Weight, weight, weight.
That vehicle sat for years over by the Hollywood (101) freeway not too far from the Barham exit. Used to see it all the time when I drove past. My kindof moter home... LOL
Um, Kevlar liners?
Lightweight, strong, will contain blast. Surprise!
Next experiment will be to link 100 of these in a row and run them down the highway together. The aerodynamic improvement will be hailed as a new efficiency breakthrough.
Or you could embed the kevlar in the fiberglass... or even use it as the matrix in the mix... or you could make them out of carbon fiber, which would be the lightest material AND still be able to hold in the debris.
IMO they could get another 15% or more if they would make that flat front more aerodynamic.
Air flowing around the back also creates a vacuum, and if they would make that more aerodynamic instead of flat, that would help also.
Maybe it blew cars off the road.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.