On the similarity of wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulation of heavy-duty trailer flow

摘要

Abstract: In this paper, the effect of the wind fairings (model support coverings) on the experimental results of a simplified Tractor/Trailer model is analysed. It is proposed that a separation occurs on the floor behind the vehicle, which results in the experimentally observed large vortex structure. Time-averaged URANS results in 0.1 1.0 s indicate that the RNG k-ε model captures unsteady flow structure, formed by the interaction of the bluff-body wake and the Von Karman vortices behind the cylindrical posts forming the large vortex structure behind the wind tunnel test model. Comparison of average velocity fields and streamline structures indicate agreement with the experimental results.