The side load distribution on a Rover 800 saloon car under crosswind conditions

Abstract The response of a car to windy conditions is governed by the aerodynamic yawing moment characteristics, which are conventionally determined from steady-state wind tunnel tests. While the overall loads acting on the vehicle can be determined, the contribution to the whole, from specific areas of the car is not apparent. The pressure distribution over the external surfaces of a full scale car has been measured and the results used to derive the distribution of side force and yawing moment components.