Journals / International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology / 2026 / Volume: 10 Issue: 2

CFD Simulation of Aerodynamic Forces on a Simplified Heavy Vehicle Model with Steady Base Blowing

Erhan Fırat(MUNZUR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-2800-6714
Mehmet Seyhan(KARADENIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-5927-9128
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-06-11
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that the jet direction’s inclination towards the rear surface typically leads to a modest yet favorable effect on the drag reduction.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:A numerical investigation was conducted to examine the flow around a European tractor-trailer combination model (GETS) using a steady RANS model k-ω SST at a Reynolds number of 100000.
📊
Key Findings & Data:More than 100 CFD simulations were performed over a range of key parameters.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that the jet direction’s inclination towards the rear surface typically leads to a modest yet favorable effect on the drag reduction.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Active flow control · Blowing · Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

A numerical investigation was conducted to examine the flow around a European tractor-trailer combination model (GETS) using a steady RANS model k-ω SST at a Reynolds number of 100000. Experimental aerodynamic force measurements were also carried out for the purpose of validating the CFD simulations. The present paper focuses on the effect of steady blowing from the thin slots positioned on the rear surface (base) of the model on the aerodynamic characteristics of the GETS. The combination of three key parameters was tested: the jet-to-freestream velocity ratio (VR), the inclination angle of the jet (θ), and the jet’s location. More than 100 CFD simulations were performed over a range of key parameters. The findings indicate that the jet direction’s inclination towards the rear surface typically leads to a modest yet favorable effect on the drag reduction. It has been demonstrated that increasing the VR to 2 has the potential to reduce aerodynamic drag by up to 50%. However, it is also demonstrated that employing VR values greater than approximately 1.25 is not viable in terms of active flow control efficiency. At θ=0°, the active control efficiency of the both-jets configuration is approximately 6 for VR=0.5 and approximately 1.6 for VR=1. The total drag coefficient on the model is reduced by 8.3% and 17.7% for the VR=0.5 and 1 cases, respectively. It has been demonstrated that the viscous components of total drag and lift are independent of jet configuration, VR, and θ. In both upper and lower jet configurations, it is possible to increase or decrease the aerodynamic lift acting on the model by changing the inclination angle.

🔖

Cite This Article

Fırat, E., Seyhan, M. (2026). CFD Simulation of Aerodynamic Forces on a Simplified Heavy Vehicle Model with Steady Base Blowing. International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology, Volume: 10 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1941954

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (36)

  1. European Union. Road transport. Climate Action. 2023.
  2. Hariram A, Koch T, Mardberg B, Kyncl J. A Study in Options to Improve Aerodynamic Profile of Heavy-Duty Vehicles in Europe. Sustainability 2019;11(19):5519. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195519
  3. McAuliffe BR. Improving the aerodynamic efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles: wind tunnel test results of trailer-based drag-reduction technologies. National Research Council of Canada, Aerospace, Aerodynamics Laboratory; 2015 Jul. p. 95. https://doi.org/10.4224/21275397
  4. Browand F, Radovich C, Boivin M. Fuel Savings by Means of Flaps Attached to the Base of a Trailer: Field Test Results. SAE Technical Paper 2005. https://doi.org/10.4271/2005-01-1016
  5. Salati L, Schito P, Cheli F. Wind tunnel experiment on a heavy truck equipped with front-rear trailer device. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2017;171:101-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2017.09.016
  6. Fırat E. Aerodynamic Drag Improvements on a Simplified Heavy Vehicle using Three-sided Plain and Notched Base Flaps. Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics. 2023;16(7):1467-1482. https://doi.org/10.47176/jafm.16.07.1748
  7. Landman D, Wood R, Seay W, Bledsoe J. Understanding Practical Limits to Heavy Truck Drag Reduction. SAE Int. J. Commer. Veh. 2010;2(2):183-190. https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2890
  8. Bukreev KR. Shape optimisation of teardrop trailers to minimise aerodynamic drag in articulated lorries. International Journal of Thermofluids. 2023;18:100334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100334
  9. Phan TL, Nguyen TT, Nguyen THT. Optimization of unsteady jet control flow method for aerodynamic drag reduction of heavy truck model. Results in Engineering. 2024;22:102167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.102167
  10. Vernet JA, Örlü R, Söderblom D, Elofsson P, Alfredsson PH. Plasma Streamwise Vortex Generators for Flow Separation Control on Trucks. Flow, Turbulence and Combustion. 2018;100:1101-1109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-018-9891-9
  11. Minelli G, Hartono EA, Chernoray V, Hjelm L, Krajnović S. Aerodynamic flow control for a generic truck cabin using synthetic jets. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2017;168:81-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2017.05.006
  12. Seifert A, Shtendel T, Dolgopyat D. From lab to full scale Active Flow Control drag reduction: How to bridge the gap? Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2015;147:262-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2015.09.012
  13. Bardera R, Matías-García JC, Barroso-Barderas E, Fernández-Antón J, Rodríguez-Sevillano AA. Active Flow Control by Coanda Actuators for Aerodynamic Drag Reduction in a European-Type Truck. Actuators. 2025;14(11):556. https://doi.org/10.3390/act14110556
  14. Manosalvas DE, Economon TD, Othmer C, Jameson A. Computational Design of Drag Diminishing Active Flow Control Systems for Heavy Vehicles. In: 8th AIAA Flow Control Conference. 2016. p. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2016-4082
  15. Littlewood RP, Passmore MA. Aerodynamic drag reduction of a simplified squareback vehicle using steady blowing. Experimental Fluids. 2012;53(2):519-529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1306-4
  16. Aubrun S, McNally J, Alvi F, Kourta A. Separation flow control on a generic ground vehicle using steady microjet arrays. Experimental Fluids. 2011;51(5):1177-1187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-011-1132-0
  17. Baek SW, Lee SW. Aerodynamic drag reduction on a realistic vehicle using continuous blowing. Microsystem Technologies. 2019;26:11-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04355-w
  18. Liu S, Chen T, Zhou W. Numerical Analysis of Aerodynamic Drag Reduction for a DrivAer Automobile Model Using Rear Air Jets. Applied Sciences. 2025;15(22):12334. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152212334
  19. Cerutti JJ, Sardu C, Cafiero G, Iuso G. Active Flow Control on a Square-Back Road Vehicle. Fluids. 2020;5(2):55. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids5020055
  20. Lorite-Díez M, Jiménez-González JI, Pastur L, Martínez-Bazán C, Cadot O. Experimental analysis of the effect of local base blowing on three-dimensional wake modes. Journal of Fluid Mechanics. 2020;883:A53. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2019.917
  21. McNally JP, Fernandez EJ, Robertson GJ, Kumar R, Taira K, Alvi FS, et al. Drag reduction on a flat-back ground vehicle with active flow control. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2015;145:292-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2015.03.006
  22. Corallo M, Sheridan J, Thompson MC. Effect of aspect ratio on the near-wake flow structure of an Ahmed body. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2015;147:95-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2015.09.006
  23. Zhang J, Wang F, Guo Z, Han S, Gao G, Wang J. Investigation of the wake flow of a simplified heavy vehicle with different aspect ratios. Physics of Fluids. 2022;34:065135. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0094534
  24. Hassaan M, Badlani D, Nazarinia M. Numerical study of the effect of aspect ratio on the flow characteristics of the Ground Transportation System. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2020;206:104314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2020.104314
  25. Van Raemdonck GMR, Van Tooren MJL. Time-Averaged Phenomenological Investigation of a Wake Behind a Bluff Body. In: Sixth International Colloquium on Bluff Body Aerodynamics & Applications. Milano, Italy; 2008.
  26. SAE International. SAE Wind Tunnel Test Procedure for Trucks and Buses. SAE Standard J1252_201207. Revised July 2012. https://doi.org/10.4271/J1252_201207
  27. Hassaan M, Badlani D, Nazarinia M. On the effect of boat-tails on a simplified heavy vehicle geometry under crosswinds. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 2018;183:172-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2018.10.013
  28. Mosiężny J, Ziegler B, Grzymisławski P, Ślefarski R. Base drag reduction concept for commercial road vehicles. Energy. 2020;205:118075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118075
  29. İpci D. A Comparative CFD Study of Side-view Mirror and Side-view Camera Usages on a City Bus. International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology. 2020;4(3):138-143. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech.726376
  30. Çalışkan M, Bakırcı A. An Investigation of The Different Diffuser Positions Effect on Vehicle Aerodynamic Performance. International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology. 2022;6(1):75-82. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech.1073376
  31. Dağdeviren A, Gürsoy E, Gedik E, Arslan K. Heat transfer and entropy analysis of Fe3O4/H2O ferrofluid in tear-drop-dimpled circular tubes. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 2025;150:19657-19676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-025-14972-5
  32. Menter FR. Two-Equation Eddy-Viscosity Turbulence Models for Engineering Applications. AIAA Journal. 1994;32(8):1598-1605. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.12149
  33. Van Straaten M. Computational and Experimental Investigation on Base Drag Reduction of a Generic Transportation System by Guiding Vanes [thesis]. Delft University of Technology; 2007.
  34. Van Tilborg F, Van Raemdonck G, Sciacchitano A, Casalino D. Flow Analysis between Two Bluff Bodies in a Close Distance Platooning Configuration. SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles. 2019;12(3):179-196. https://doi.org/10.4271/02-12-03-0015
  35. İpci D. A Comparative CFD Study of Side-view Mirror and Side-view Camera Usages on a City Bus. International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology. 2020;4(3):138-143. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech.726376
  36. Çalışkan M, Bakırcı A. An Investigation of The Different Diffuser Positions Effect on Vehicle Aerodynamic Performance. International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology. 2022;6(1):75-82. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech.1073376