Research on Aerodynamic Force Acting on Moving Vehicles under Crosswinds

Abstract

Wind-induced vehicle accidents sometimes occur on bridges, embankments, and so on. In this research, aerodynamic force contributing to overturning is examined by wind tunnel experiment, CFD analysis and field observation. Aerodynamic coefficient of a rectangular prism is derived to evaluate aerodynamic force, and it takes the effect of boundary layer near ground surface into account. By wind tunnel experiment, when wind condition acting on moving vehicle changes suddenly due to crosswinds, transient aerodynamic characteristics is examined, and inditial response function to approximate the characteristics is evaluated. Finally, we considered about the difference between wind condition data measured on a fixed point and a moving vehicle.