Effects of rear-end configuration of vehicles on aerodynamic drag
by I. Kohri, N. Numata
International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), Vol. 9, No. 2, 1988

Abstract: Slant-angle effects of the upper and lower surfaces at the rear end were investigated as a representative means to reduce aerodynamic drag by optimizing the rear-end configuration of vehicles. Among the findings were that the characteristic change in the aerodynamic drag depended on the upper surface configuration (fastback or van) in considering the slant-angle effects of lower surfaces, and that the slant-angle effects of upper surfaces also showed different characteristics according to the extent of taper of the body sides. These slant-angle effects are governed directly by changes caused by trailing vortices in the pressure distribution on the slant surface. As they also depend on the difference in rear flow fields due to mutual interference between upper and lower surfaces (upper and lower surface trailing vortices and up- and down-wash interferences), means for optimisation that are adaptable to the rear-end configuration of vehicles were identified.

Online publication date: Mon, 26-May-2014

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