Design and Optimization

of a Drag-Reduction AddOn Device for a School

Bus
Results Summary and Images
Jiedong Duan
Niles North High School

Spoile Fd(N)
r Spoiler 4281
Rear

Cd

%Delta Cd Fy

1.069 5.481

28.050

Cl

Volume
Device(cm^3)

%DeltaCd/Volume

0.007

Not Feasible

NA

Control

Fd(N)

Cd

%Delta Cd

Fy

Cl

Control Bus

4059

1.223

0.000

-339.573

-0.102

Back PlatesFd(N)

%DeltaCd/Volum
e

Cd

%Delta Cd Fy

Bus Back Plates

Default
3592

1.083

-11.499

-339.643 -0.102

50142.870

-229.316

Bus Back Plates Extra horizontal

flat plate
3638

1.097

-10.352

64.755

0.020

73307.250

-141.212

Bus Back Plate Curved Boat-Tail

1.046

-14.480

277.785

0.084

61096.190

-236.999

3471

Cl

Volume
Device(cm^3)

Mesh

Volume Mesh Cross Section

Frontal Pressure: Fairing vs. Control

Control
Fairing
Rear Pressure: Control vs. Plates

Fairing

Volume
Device(cm^3)

%DeltaCd/Volume
(m^3)

Fd(N) Cd

%Delta Cd

Fy

Cl

Straight
Arc radius 125
Arc radius 150

3711
3501
3496

1.118
1.055
1.054

-8.572
-13.737
-13.860

-448.227
245.000
169.634

-0.135 60885.645
0.074 65928.575
0.051 64392.940

-140.791
-208.356
-215.238

Arc radius 175

Arc radius 250

3473
3516

1.047
1.060

-14.427
-13.374

-41.000
119.300

-0.012 63581.838
0.036 62472.902

-226.897
-214.083

Contro
l
Back
Plates
Velocity Distribution

Control

Data Analysis
The control school bus model had a higher CD than theoretically
expected; 1.223 compared to a theoretical 0.6-0.8. This could be
due to two reasons: the model made in Autodesk Simulation CFD
was fairly coarse to reduce the mesh complexity and sharp edges
tend to cause more flow separation and higher pressures than
smoother ones found on a real bus. Secondly, CFD comes with
inherent error that was made worse with the relatively low mesh
resolutions(~100-150k elements) due to limited computing power.
Despite this, it is still viable to make comparisons between the
control and the three designs.
The rear spoiler, even though it decreased the size of the wake,
added an extra 1.267m^2 to the cross sectional area and increased
overall drag force. A cost analysis was not done for it because the
design did not reduce drag.
All the frontal fairing designs reduced Fd by a considerable amount.
The worst performing, as expected, was the flat design. All the
other designs were fairly similar in their %DeltaC d/Volume scores,
showing that they were fairly close in efficiency. The most efficient
design with the 175cm arc radius reduced Fd and Cd by 14.427%
and had a materials payback period of 3.461 years if made with
0.5cm polycarbonate and 1.458 years if made with 0.5cm
polypropylene, both reinforced with 30% glass fiber.
The back plates were all fairly effective in reducing F d and Cd. From
the first optimization, The efficiency, measured through negative
%DeltaCd/Volume, constantly increased as length decreases. 0.3m

Back
Plates

Fairing
Recirculation

Control
Fairing

Back
Plates