Inspiration from Tractor Trailer Side Skirts

[MPGomatic]

Just say no to flat sided skirts? I'm going to add some angle to the front of Slambo's skirts …

Duraplate Aeroskirt

Wabash Composites | Products | DuraPlate AeroSkirt®

Ventix DRS

Wabash Composites | Products | Ventix DRS

[BabyDiesel]

I have seen 100s of tractor trailers with the front of the skirt curved inward, and the number is growing everyday. Seeing their skirts like that was a major reason why I took mine off till I can figure out how to tuck them inside towards the front tire.

[AbramWagner]

Very interesting

[freebeard]

This may be my favorite picture from Bonneville, but I should have gottten one a little more from the rear to show that although the fence starts at the axle-line, the rear edges are flush with the outside of the tire. Do this front and back and then have the sideskirt longitudinal. Maybe shaped more like moldboard/plowshare of a plow.

[aerohead]

I think you'll be shooting yourself in the foot if you do this.You don't have landing gear to deal with as on a semi,nor is your spare tire located there.
The flanks of a car should be flush with the wheels.Or enclose them altogether.

[BabyDiesel]

Do you mind explaining why having our side skirts this way is equivalent of piercing our foots with bullets?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by BabyDiesel

Do you mind explaining why having our side skirts this way is equivalent of piercing our foots with bullets?

*The path down the sides of a car is the shortest and most direct route the air can take to the rear.
*Allowing the air to flow as smoothly as possible there ensures the lowest drag.
*If the pathway is interrupted with a void (behind the front tires) we lose the flow right there.
*There will be reattachment downstream,but that pocket of turbulence has to be paid for with extra drag,continuously as we drive.
*Truly low-drag forms will have flush sides,or better,fully-enclosed flush sides,apart from any Coke-bottling done for pressure control.
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*On a semi,the landing gear handle is inset to the trailer frame,and also the spare tire /chain rack.
*'Store-bought' trailer skirts are often 'wedged',as a courtesy to the OTR operator who's got to deal with dropping trailers and flat tires.
*Aerodynamically,it's a compromise.No low-drag concept truck uses non-parallel skirts.

[MPGomatic]

Originally Posted by aerohead

*The path down the sides of a car is the shortest and most direct route the air can take to the rear.
*Allowing the air to flow as smoothly as possible there ensures the lowest drag.
*If the pathway is interrupted with a void (behind the front tires) we lose the flow right there.
*There will be reattachment downstream,but that pocket of turbulence has to be paid for with extra drag,continuously as we drive.
*Truly low-drag forms will have flush sides,or better,fully-enclosed flush sides,apart from any Coke-bottling done for pressure control.

Great stuff, Aerohead! What about influencing the air that comes off the tires out of the wheelwell/away from under the car with a gentle sweep by integrating a small flap at the back of the wheelwell that blends into the skirt? Instead of a 90º angle, it might be 100º?

[gumby79]

another reason for the pinch front . Snow. .. if the tires of the truck pack snow on the inside = bad

[whatmaycome14]

Aerohead, I appreciate what you've said, but it stirred a question in my mind. I couldn't help but notice that on the bottom of the McLaren mp4-12c has some very short "skirts" behind the front wheels. Is this at all related to the fact that the car doesn't have any side skirts hanging that low?

https://inthemetal.wordpress.com/201...p4-12cs-floor/