Connection between rear-end extensions and yaw response of a passenger vehicle
Journal article, 2020

This paper aims to investigate the sensitivity of the rear-end design to the yaw response of a passenger vehicle. To accomplish this, rear-end extensions are attached to the base perimeter of a sport utility vehicle (SUV). The intention of the extensions is to improve and to smooth out the pressure recovery such that a more stable wake is created. The extensions facilitate the implementation of configuration changes with respect to design, inclination angle and length. To control the separation conditions of the flow entering the near-wake, two different designs are studied. The yaw response is analysed through the global forces and flow field measurements presented as surface pressure distributions and wake plane measurements of local drag. The results show that the rear-end can be designed as to control the yaw response so the aerodynamic drag is minimised and passenger vehicle stability is maintained.

full-scale wind tunnel experiments

yaw response

rear-end stability

rear-end design

drag reduction

Author

Lennert Sterken

Volvo Cars

Simone Sebben

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Lennart Löfdahl

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

International Journal of Aerodynamics

1743-5447 (ISSN)

Vol. 7 1 1-17

Subject Categories

Mechanical Engineering

Vehicle Engineering

Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

DOI

10.1504/IJAD.2020.107165

More information

Latest update

11/26/2021