Aerodynamic Effects on Two-Lane Rural Highway Safety
PI: Tao Xing (UI), xing@uidaho.edu
Dates: 12/16/2015 – 12/15/2016
Status: Completed
UTC Project Information
Final Technical Report
The goal of this project is to use advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and wind tunnel experimental measurements to study the effects of aerodynamics on two-lane rural highway safety in the United States. The project will focus on the changes of forces and moments in three dimensions during the crossing and overtaking process between cars and trucks under various environmental wind conditions, especially cross-wind.
Additionally, comprehensive data will be produced for the flow fields (vortical structures, pressures, and velocities) around ground vehicles (car, truck) during those process, which will be used to better understand the stability and safety of the vehicles. The data produced in this project will help modify/improve existing highway policies and/or designs of automobiles to improve the stability and safety. Through collaboration with other researchers (e.g. Dr. John Anderson from Virtual Technology and Design), the results of this project will be used to apply for a much bigger grant on “Vehicle Dynamic Simulation Technology” sponsored by U.S. Department of Defense and Naval Air Warfare Center (http://pivot.cos.com/funding_opps/99043).
