More Aerodynamic Trucks Envisioned

Improvements in air flow borrowed from the aerospace industry could save the U.S. trucking industry hundreds of millions of gallons of fuel per year, researchers at Georgia Tech say.

Recent tests show fuel economy could be improved by as much as 12 percent. The improvements could also enhance braking and directional control, making big rigs safer, scientists said last week.

The changes would not be all up front. They'd include more aerodynamic corners around the back of the truck, as seen in the image at right. And nearly half the theoretical fuel savings would come from pneumatic devices that blow air from slots at the rear of the trailer to further improve and prevent separation of air flow.

The tests involved running a blowing-equipped tractor-trailer, along with a standard one, around a 7.5-mile oval at highway up to 75 mph.

"Aerodynamically, we have resolved unknowns raised in earlier testing, and the next step is to get this into a fleet of trucks for more extensive testing," said lead researcher Robert Englar at the Georgia Tech Research Institute.

The stakes are high.

"At highway speeds, each one percent improvement in fuel economy results in saving of about 200 million gallons of fuel for the U.S. heavy truck fleet," Englar said.

-- LiveScience Staff

Image Credit: Georgia Tech