Aerodynamic Devices Can Significantly Reduce the Fuel Consumption of Trucks: Experience With CECA Designs

An economic study relating aerodynamic performance to fuel consumption has been completed. An experimental windtunnel evaluation of both new shapes and modified shapes for semi-tractors has been conducted and the results show that it is possible to both modify existing tractors and design new tractors which will result in substantial fuel savings. The wind-tunnel tests included collecting force and moment data at various yaw angles on several tractor-trailer combinations, including cabovers and conventional tractors, a variety of streamlining modifications to those tractors, plus some entirely new tractor shapes. A method for incorporating the modifications on existing tractors has been road tested and the results are discussed. /GMRL/