Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Flow over a Pick-up Truck


Ince I. T., Mercan H., Onur N.

Heat Transfer Research, no.3, pp.10-20, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1615/heattransres.2021038655
  • Journal Name: Heat Transfer Research
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.10-20
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The drag forces drag coefficient of a typical pickup truck is investigated experimentally and 3-D numerical analysis is performed. A detailed 1/4 scaled model is constructed and experiments are performed at Reynolds numbers around 2x106 in the ANKARA WIND TUNNEL (ART). The experimental study is divided into two; in the first stage the pressure distribution along the symmetry axis is measured and in the second stage the drag forces and overall drag coefficient are measured for five different wind speeds. The measured data is compared with the 3-D numerical simulation performed in FLUENT. Standard, realizable and RNG k-ε models, standard, and SST k-ω and finally RSM turbulence models are compared for three with near wall treatments, standard wall function, non-equilibrium wall function and enhanced wall function. The comparison revealed that for lower velocities the best turbulent model-wall treatment couple is the realizable k-ε model with Reynolds stress model with standard wall function, whereas for higher velocities standard k-ε model turbulence model is observed to be more compatible with experimental data. The highest pressure value is measured in the front of the pickup truck and the lowest pressure value is evaluated at the rim where the windshield and the roof meet.