Technical Paper
An Investigation of Aerodynamic Characteristics of Three Bluff Bodies in Close Longitudinal Proximity
2019-04-02
2019-01-0659
The potential benefit for passenger cars when travelling in a ‘platoon’ formation results from the total aerodynamic drag reduction which may result from the interaction of bluff bodies in close-proximity. In the 1980s this was considered as an opportunity to alleviate congestion and also for fuel-saving in response to the oil crises of the 1970s. Early interest was limited by the availability of suitable systems to control vehicle spacing. However, recent developments in communication and control technologies intended for connected and autonomous driving applications has provided the potential for ‘platooning’ to be incorporated within future traffic management systems. The study described in this paper uses a systematic approach to changes in vehicle shape in order to identify the sensitivity of the benefits of platooning to vehicle style.