Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Sample project: app.airshaper.com/simulations/vecto-base
More information: airshaper.com or info@airshaper.com
In this video is a step by step explanation of how to use CFD simulations to analyze the aerodynamics of a truck. We used the official VECTO 3D model with a tractor and trailer.
---Setup---
The AirShaper platform was used to set up the simulation. The truck is oriented forward and a rotation is added to all of the wheels.
---Results---
- Pressure clouds (iso-surface for the total pressure coefficient of 0):
These illustrate where energy losses are high. This highlights the drag caused by the mirrors, gaps in the body work, exposed wheels, structures below the trailer, the tail, etc.
- Pressure map: this one illustrates the pressure perpendicular to the surface. It clearly shows the pressure buildup at the front and on the most exposed wheels. It also shows the pressure reduction in locations where the air speeds up to move around a curvature.
- Friction map: this one shows the magnitude of the friction force of the air flowing parallel to the surface. When low, this can indicate either stagnation of the flow (at the front of the truck for example) or separation of the flow (behind the wheels, at the rear of the trailer, ...). The surface streamlines indicate how the air moves across the surface.
- 3D streamlines: these show how the air flows around the tractor, below the trailer, ..;
- Noise: this is an estimation of the sources of wind noise. As this is a steady stage RANS simulation, it is just an approximation based on the turbulent kinetic energy.
- Elements: the flow through the radiator is visualized and the total flow rate is calculated.
- Forces: the forces on each individual element are calculated.
Sample project: app.airshaper.com/simulations/vecto-base
More information: airshaper.com or info@airshaper.com
In this video is a step by step explanation of how to use CFD simulations to analyze the aerodynamics of a truck. We used the official VECTO 3D model with a tractor and trailer.
---Setup---
The AirShaper platform was used to set up the simulation. The truck is oriented forward and a rotation is added to all of the wheels.
---Results---
- Pressure clouds (iso-surface for the total pressure coefficient of 0):
These illustrate where energy losses are high. This highlights the drag caused by the mirrors, gaps in the body work, exposed wheels, structures below the trailer, the tail, etc.
- Pressure map: this one illustrates the pressure perpendicular to the surface. It clearly shows the pressure buildup at the front and on the most exposed wheels. It also shows the pressure reduction in locations where the air speeds up to move around a curvature.
- Friction map: this one shows the magnitude of the friction force of the air flowing parallel to the surface. When low, this can indicate either stagnation of the flow (at the front of the truck for example) or separation of the flow (behind the wheels, at the rear of the trailer, ...). The surface streamlines indicate how the air moves across the surface.
- 3D streamlines: these show how the air flows around the tractor, below the trailer, ..;
- Noise: this is an estimation of the sources of wind noise. As this is a steady stage RANS simulation, it is just an approximation based on the turbulent kinetic energy.
- Elements: the flow through the radiator is visualized and the total flow rate is calculated.
- Forces: the forces on each individual element are calculated.
