An examination of the effects of wind turbulence on the aerodynamic drag of vehicles

Abstract Data from wind-tunnel and full-scale measurements of the aerodynamic drag on trucks are used to illustrate the effects of wind turbulence. An attempt has been made to estimate these effects using a quasi-steady average of smooth-flow wind-tunnel data, allowing the data to be adjusted to better represent road conditions. The theory does not completely explain the behaviour observed in turbulence conditions although some of the general trends found in turbulent-flow wind-tunnel tests are predicted.