Abstract:
The science of aerodynamics determines how gaseous fluids such as air, flow as well as the
forces, exerted on moving objects such as automobiles. Due to the significant increase in fuel
prices and vehicle speeds since the beginning of the 20th century, it has become crucial to
minimize aerodynamic drag. This thesis work explains the aerodynamic study of a Bishoftu
double cabin pickup truck equipped with delta and triangular-shaped vortex generators at the
roof end of the truck to reduce the vehicle's aerodynamic drag coefficient. Pickup vehicles have a
higher aerodynamic drag coefficient than the other types of road vehicles compared with Sport
Utility Vehicles (SUVs). The shape of the Bishoftu Plutus double cabin pickup vehicle is a direct
effect and it can be influenced by the drag coefficient result. The main objective of this thesis
work is to examine the aerodynamic performance of the Bishoftu Plutus double cabin pickup
vehicle with different configurations of vortex generators. To validate the numerical simulation
results with experimental tests. It was also conducted under various parameter settings. This
thesis work examined the flow field structures of adding vortex generators to the model's roof
end to demonstrate the reduction mechanism numerical simulation results of pressure, velocity,
and vortex structure provided by contrasting the baseline model with experimental data. Using
ANSYS fluent software for computational analysis and conducted experimental tests on wind
tunnels. Two different types of passive flow drag reduction devices were investigated in this
work, and each had a significant impact on the development of the separation flow. Using vortex
generators on the roof end of the model has a maximum drag reduction of 6.50% Lift coefficient
reduction of 8.69%, and 14% average fuel save achieved.
