On the Characterization of Wind Profiles Generated by Road Traffic

This paper analyses the flow field and the power wasted by a heavy-duty truck of modified GTS standard shape (equivalent to GCM class 8). Computational fluid dynamics has been used to analyze truck models at cruise conditions. The selected test matrix includes the study of an isolated truck and of a train of two and three trucks to evidence interaction effects. For each case three different velocities have been considered. The numerical campaign is able to quantify the drag coefficient distribution, the losses generated on the roof by viscous phenomena and the changes in velocity distributions. An in-situ experimental campaign is also settled in the truck lane of Venice highway using ultrasonic anemometers and video cameras set on the same measurement frame. Non-dimensional velocity distributions along the vehicle confirm that the height of the separation bubble is dependent on the number of trucks.