Patent ID: 6286892
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A method for reducing drag of a ground vehicle comprising the steps of:attaching a porous skin substantially adjacent to a trailing surface of the ground vehicle, the porous skin being substantially rigid after attachment;forming a plenum between the porous skin and the trailing surface, whereby the asymmetric character of the external trailing wake flow field of the ground vehicle is changed to a substantially steady and laterally symmetric trailing wake flow field;wherein the porous skin comprises a first porous skin portion and a second porous skin portion; andwherein said step of attaching a porous skin to a trailing surface of the ground vehicle comprises attaching the first porous skin portion substantially parallel to the trailing surface; andsaid method further comprises the step of attaching the second porous skin portion substantially parallel and adjacent to the top surface of the ground vehicle.