Road Loads Chapter 4 Road Loads

n n n n

Aerodynamic drag (in X direction) Aerodynamic lift (in Z direction) Tire rolling resistance Road gradient (hills)

Drag Coefficient, C D
DA =
Drag force

Density of Air,
Eqn. 4-2 Air pressure

Frontal area of vehicle Density of Vehicle Drag air velocity coefficient Eqn. 4-4

1 V 2CD A 2

519 o F Pr = 0 .00236 o 29 .92 inHg 460 F + Tr

lbf sec2 ft 4

Air temperature

= 1 .202

kg m3

(Bosch Automotive Handbook, p. 339)

Frontal Area of Vehicle, A

For passenger cars, A ~ 0.9 * Height * Track Height
(Bosch Automotive Handbook, p. 338)

Typical Frontal Areas

Vehicle GM 1-Ton full size van Ford Minivan Chrysler Minivan Typical U.S. Sedan 5 passenger Volvo ECC 1991 Honda Civic DX GM Experimental Ultralite Renault VESTA II Frontal Area 3.35 m
2 2

36.0 ft

2 2

3.25 m 2 2.97 m 2.30 m 2 2.01 m 2 1.80 m 1.71 m 2 1.64 m

2 2

35.0 ft 2 32.0 ft 24.7 ft 2 21.6 ft 2 19.4 ft 18.4 ft 2 17.6 ft

2 2

Track

From: http://www.partnumber.com/ev/handbook/aerodynamics.html

Drag Coefficient, C D

Typical Drag Coefficients

Drag Coefficients Cd for a range of Vehicles Average 1975 U.S. Estate Wagon 0.60 Average 1979 U.S. Car 0.48 GM 1-Ton full size van 0.47 Average 1987 U.S. Car 0.37 Average 1992 U.S. Car 0.33 Chrysler T-115 1990 Minivan 0.32 1986 Subaru XT Coupe 0.31 Best 1993 U.S. Sedan 0.29 General Motors Electric Impact 0.19 GM Sunraycer Solar Car 0.13
From: http://www.partnumber.com/ev/handbook/aerodynamics.html

Figure 4.20

Drag Power
Drag force, lbf

Example Problem #1
Velocity, ft/sec
n

PD = D A V 1hp ft PD = (lbf ) ft lbf sec 550 sec2

D V = A hp 550

Estimate the drag force and the drag power required on a GM Electric Impact vehicle at

60 mph (97 kph)

What is the equation when DA in lbf, V in mph and PD in hp? What is the equation when DA in N, V in kph and PD in kW?

Example Problem #2
n

Aerodynamic Lift and Drag

Estimate the drag force and the drag power required on my 96 Ranger at

30 mph (48 kph) 60 mph (97 kph) 75 mph (120 kph)

Other Aerodynamic Effects