Numerical Study on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Heavy-Duty Vehicles Platooning for Energy Savings and CO 2 Reduction

Junik Jo and Chul-Ho Kim
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Junik Jo: Department of Automotive Engineering, Graduate School, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea
Chul-Ho Kim: Department of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: This study aims to analyze the aerodynamic interaction between moving vehicles platooning with the change in the platooning conditions on a freeway. The effect of the vortex generated by the forward vehicle reduces the value of the stagnation pressure generated at the front of the rear vehicle, which effectively reduces drag on the driving vehicle. To elucidate this, a total of four vehicles were applied to platooning at a speed of 100 km/h by altering the gap distance of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) such as 0.5 Length (L), 1 L, 1.5 L, 2.0 L, and 2.5 L under the conditions of 1 L equal to 13.16 m. The stagnation pressure at the front of the following vehicle (FV) was reduced, and quantitative analysis of drag force generated at each leading vehicle (LV) and following vehicle that is platooning exhibited a reduction of about 51%, 56%, and 52%, respectively, when compared to the single moving HDV. This is considered as a reduction in engine power for the driving vehicle. Taken together, these results are effective in improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO 2 , a representative greenhouse gas, and predicting fuel and CO 2 reduction based on HDV annual mileage according to the highway conditions and logistics.

Keywords: aerodynamic drag; CFD (computational fluid dynamics); platooning; CO 2 reduction; GHG (greenhouse gas) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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