CFD of my Semi Truck Boat-Tail

[skyking]

Originally Posted by Shepherd777

We should be in your neck of the woods sometime this year.

We have two Sponsor's/Business Partner's up the street from you in Seattle. And we'll prolly head through Tacoma going up or down I-5.

I can shoot you a PM when we get close to that trip, and give you an in-person nickle tour of the rig.

I'd be delighted. I have not driven a modern rig, probably the newest truck has been a '92 LN9000 dump truck/tilt trailer combo. Be nice to see it.

[ausias]

Did you model the truck using Solid Works or did you imported it? I tried several importing 3dstudio max meshes and I didn't find the way to convert it to a solid.
Does your simulation use rolling wheels? If so, have you tried if there are some differences between smoth hubcaps or steel/aluminum standard wheels?
Do you think to test some rubber mudflaps versus some king of ecoflaps (Eco-Flaps) ?
How much time did the simulation last? In what machine?
Thanks for sharing your work?

I was trying to assess the benefits of a boat tail in long delivery vans like these:
UPS Delivery Van 3D Model by justonepixel
iveco daily van 3d model
Cargo vehicle light commercial car, (.3ds) 3D Studio, Transportation Objects free software download
Mercedes Sprinter II Van Long 3D Model by SQUIR
Mercedes New Sprinter Pack (3 Models) 3D Model by kdeniz
3D CAD Browser - 3D Model Preview - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
3D CAD Browser - 3D Model Preview - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter [NURBS]

but i have to solve several problems importing or modelling objects yet.

I'm sorry about too much questions.

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

I'm about 2 hours away from Newington. Have any free time on a weekend for a Freightliner tech?

You can drive on down if you like. We would be glad to meet you. My shop is 12 miles southwest of Hartford.

I dunno know about free time part though. The whole rig, tractor & trailer, is scheduled to make its world debut inside the Tampa Convention Center on February 18th. at TMC. And we have like 2 months work left. But we will be there.

Technology & Maintenance Council

Of course, we could put you to work for a Saturday to help us finish. Do you work cheap?

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by ausias

Did you model the truck using Solid Works or did you imported it?

We built it from scratch.


Does your simulation use rolling wheels?

But of course.


If so, have you tried if there are some differences between smoth hubcaps or steel/aluminum standard wheels?

No. We are running full skirts on the tractor and the trailer and Aero hub caps on the steering axle.


Do you think to test some rubber mudflaps versus some king of ecoflaps (Eco-Flaps) ?

We use vflaps on the tractor and the trailer. www.vflaps.com


How much time did the simulation last?

Iterations: 215
CPU time: 6301 s


In what machine?

Custom
8 Processors Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 950 @ 3.07GHz
Memory 12279 MB / 8388607 MB
Operating system (Build 7600)
CAD version SolidWorks 2011 SP1.0
CPU speed 3068 MHz


Thanks for sharing your work?

You're welcome.


I'm sorry about too much questions.

Never feel sorry for asking too many questions. Feel sorry for not asking enough questions.

[Sven7]

Is this supposed to be for production or is it your own personal project? I don't imagine the average truck driver or maintenance worker would be happy to have the wheels covered up. Vekke on here makes some nice semi wheel covers if you decide to truncate the skirts

How does the boattail fold up/out of the way?

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by Sven7

Is this supposed to be for production or is it your own personal project?

This is one prototype where we retrofitted a "square" truck into an aero truck. But it's a little more complicated than one taping a pizza carton over the grill opening of his Prius. Not that there's anything wrong with that. If and when we get funding, we would love to build thousands of the second-generation version from scratch.

I don't imagine the average truck driver or maintenance worker would be happy to have the wheels covered up. Vekke on here makes some nice semi wheel covers if you decide to truncate the skirts

Exactly what maintenance or other problems do you foresee with the wheels covered up? The brakes have automatic slack adjusters, so they never have to be adjusted on the road. The drive tires on the tractor, and the trailer tires have an Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS). The ATIS maintains the proper tire pressure at all times. In the event of even a slow leak of a tire, the ATIS computer annunciates that fact by squawking a red LED that I installed in the dash. In the event of a tire repair or change, the skirt panels on the tractor are removed in two minutes via 6 3/8" bolts. To pre-trip inspect the tires, one has to jack the tractor 90 degrees to the trailer to physically view the tractor tires. And the trailer tire access panels open in 30 seconds with 1/4 turn quick-release fasteners. Here is a pic of my buddy Bruce, showing how the trailer tires are accessed via a hinged panel and 6 Zeus fasteners:



How does the boattail fold up/out of the way?

It inflates rearward. When deflated, it stows behind the doors.

[JethroBodine]

Sven- You'd be amazed at what has to be removed already just to get to normal replacement items. Besides, with a certain national truck rental line, the drivers they employ will keep us busy with replacing those skirts as fast as Shepherd can build them.

Do you work cheap?

Depends on what the bartender is serving. Seriously, I'll check my schedule for this weekend and get back in touch. I'm assuming no pics of vids before launch date.

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

Sven- You'd be amazed at what has to be removed already just to get to normal replacement items. Besides, with a certain national truck rental line, the drivers they employ will keep us busy with replacing those skirts as fast as Shepherd can build them.

Actually, those skirts are almost driver-proof and not at all prone to damage.


Depends on what the bartender is serving. Seriously, I'll check my schedule for this weekend and get back in touch. I'm assuming no pics of vids before launch date.

Sorry I should have been more specific. The new fiberglass parts will hopefully be in the paint booth next weekend. Assuming I finish up the hood hinges shortly, that is. Prolly 2 or 3 more weekends.

[Sven7]

Looks like you've got it pretty well figured out. I imagined drivers might be anxious about having the wheels covered. Can't wait to see real world estimates. Rock on.

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by Sven7

Looks like you've got it pretty well figured out. I imagined drivers might be anxious about having the wheels covered. Can't wait to see real world estimates. Rock on.

Thanks for the kind words.

My absolute favorite comment I like to hear on my work is "That was well thought out"