A NUMERICAL STUDY OF FOOT STEP EFFECTS ON DRAG FOR A GENERIC SUV

摘要

In the history of aerodynamic research around the bluff bodies like SUV, trucks and trailers, it has always been observed that their shapes with square base have served as an obstacle causing enormous drag. When the air passes over the vehicle surface, it makes the air over the surface change its behavior, thereby converting the low pressure atmospheric air into a high pressure causing pressure difference. This pressure difference along with the vortex shedding causes drag thereby increases the fuel consumption. Researchers around the world have tried to overcome the drag of trailers by using external devices like spoilers, vortex strake device (VCD) and under-carriage flow device (UFD) which have reduced the drag of trailers or trucks overall. The purpose of this paper is to study the shape effects of the foot step used in SUV by the passengers. The final results of the simulations are explained with the help of pressure contours, mean velocity profiles and aerodynamic drag plots.