Dear ,

Welcome to "AeroUpdate," our new series where SmartTruck engineers share the art and science behind SmartTruck's next generation drag reduction solutions.This issue features our new LeadEdge Top Fairing.
 
Please don't hesitate to contact the SmartTruck engineering team or your local SmartTruck representative if you'd like to learn more.
It is well known that the gap between a tractor and trailer is a hot spot for aerodynamic drag. As turbulent air moving around a tractor becomes trapped in this area, it works against the forward movement of the vehicle. While other nose fairings use rounded or elliptical shapes to reduce that drag, SmartTruck's new LeadEdge Top Fairing not only reduces drag but actually utilizes the existing air flow to create lift, resulting in an additional 2% increase in fuel economy.

The unique shape of the LeadEdge was born out of a sophisticated optimization process used in Computational Fluid Dynamics called a Genetic Algorithm. Through this innovative process, the application produces shapes and features that are tested and combined with the other designs until a shape has achieved the highest performance results.
PRODUCT TESTING

After finding the optimized shape with CFD, the LeadEdge fairing went through a meticulous round of real world testing at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds in Mountville, SC.

Going above and beyond standard protocol for the industry-standard coast down testing procedure, the LeadEdge fairing resulted in an added 2% improvement in fuel economy that you can potentially add to other gains realized using SmartTruck components or other aero solutions.


MATERIALS SELECTION

The LeadEdge plastic fairings are made from MetaForm 7200 Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO). With properties such as durability, UV stability, and impact forgiveness, TPO is ideally suited for use in the transportation industry.

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW


Click to Enlarge
Items [A] and [C] are the curbside and roadside end caps that are attached to items [B], the LeadEdge plastic fairing, before they are installed on the trailer.  
 
The LeadEdge is attached to the front lip of the trailer roof through items [B], and then the shorter fairing item [D] attaches in the middle of the trailer.
 

The LeadEdge has been designed to fit most variations in trailer specifications and can be quickly modified to accommodate lights, logos, and exhaust vents. The LeadEdge can be installed on 53-foot dry van trailers and 28-foot pup trailers.



1200 Donaldson Road
Greenville, SC 29605
888-320-5970

Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.