Title: Investigation of the loads on truck cabin aerodynamic devices

Authors: H. Kumar, S. Watkins, J.W. Saunders

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract: Aerodynamic add-on devices offer long-term fuel savings for many types of commercial vehicle. However some designs of these aerodynamic devices fitted to cabin roofs proved to be lacking in structural integrity and damage to the truck cabin roofs and possible overloading on the front axles had been reported by the trucking industry. To investigate the loads an experimental program was carried out on a freeway and rough track. Mean axle loads were found to be negligible. However, dynamic loads, in particular large peak loads, on the cabin roof will lessen the fatigue life of the cabin roof supporting mechanism and the life of the aerodynamic device due to excessive vibrations. Design of the attachment methods of aerodynamic device/roof fixtures and the aerodynamic-add-on devices needs to become an integral part of the design of the truck.

Keywords: aerodynamic devices; heavy commercial vehicles; truck aerodynamics; truck vibrations; heavy vehicles; truck cabins; truck cabs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.1995.054609

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 1995 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.208 - 224

Published online: 18 Jun 2013 *

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