SBIR Phase I: FLEXIBLE SURFACE DETURBULATOR FOR ENHANCING AUTOMOBILE FUEL EFFICIENCY

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a Flexible Composite Surface Deturbulator (FCSD) tape and methods for affixing it to road vehicles to reduce air resistance. The FCSD is a thin, non-powered device consisting of a flexible membrane stretched across an array of strips on a substrate. The back of the substrate can then be bonded to the surfaces of a road vehicle. In the presence of a large turbulent wake (as evidenced by a large plume of spray when driving on wet highways), behind a road vehicle, the Deturbulator reduces drag by making the air stagnant in this virtual boat-tail. Even though about 80% drag reduction has been observed in wind tunnel tests, a detailed analysis of the flow-deturbulator interaction will be performed in order to optimize the Deturbulator for long distance trucks. The drag reduction achieved with a Deturbulator Tape will attract potential users in the U.S. and abroad to immediately retrofit and counteract increasing fuel prices. It will also help reduce emissions of toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases (CO2) from trucks and automobiles.