L. Tsuei, Ö. Savas

submitted to Journal of Wind Engineering and industrial Aerodynamics, 2000.

The transient aerodynamics of two four-vehicle platoons were studied experimentally when any one of the platoon members was forced to undergo in-line oscillations. The drag forces experienced by the remaining platoon members were determined simultaneously using strain gauge balances during the oscillations. The effects of the position of the oscillating vehicle, the shape of the vehicles, and the displacement and velocity amplitudes of the oscillation were examined. The upstream neighbor of an oscillating model showed an in-phase drag variation while the downstream one showed an out-of-phase variation. Steady measurements were provided for comparison, including data showing the effects of platooning. A cavity drag model was used to explain the results.