Method for applying tension to aerodynamic trailer skirt

A method of attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer, comprising:

• providing a trailer skirt that has a leading terminal end and a trailing terminal end and a length that extends in a longitudinal direction from the leading terminal end to the trailing terminal end, wherein the trailer skirt has an outer surface and an inner surface that are spaced from one another in a lateral direction and that define between them a width of the trailer skirt, wherein the trailer skirt has an upper surface and a lower surface that are spaced from one another in a vertical direction, wherein the trailer skirt has a first attachment location and a second attachment location in which the first attachment location is located forward of the second attachment location in the longitudinal direction so as to be closer to the leading terminal end in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the trailer skirt has a third attachment location that is located rearward of the second attachment location in the longitudinal direction so as to be closer to the trailing terminal end in the longitudinal direction;
• providing a trailer of a tractor trailer;
• and
• attaching the trailer skirt to the trailer at the first, second, and third attachment locations such that the lower surface is placed into tension;
• wherein a bottom surface of the trailer is concave in shape upon extension in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the first, second and third attachment locations are attached to the bottom surface of the trailer;
• wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the trailer skirt is convex in shape, and wherein the bottom surface of the trailer has a radius of curvature that is different than a radius of curvature of the convex shaped upper surface.

A method of attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer, comprising:

• providing a trailer skirt that has a leading terminal end and a trailing terminal end and a length that extends in a longitudinal direction from the leading terminal end to the trailing terminal end, wherein the trailer skirt has an outer surface and an inner surface that are spaced from one another in a lateral direction and that define between them a width of the trailer skirt, wherein the trailer skirt has an upper surface and a lower surface that are spaced from one another in a vertical direction, wherein the trailer skirt has a first attachment location and a second attachment location in which the first attachment location is located forward of the second attachment location in the longitudinal direction so as to be closer to the leading terminal end in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the trailer skirt has a third attachment location that is located rearward of the second attachment location in the longitudinal direction so as to be closer to the trailing terminal end in the longitudinal direction;
• providing a trailer of a tractor trailer;
• and
• attaching the trailer skirt to the trailer at the first, second, and third attachment locations such that the lower surface is placed into tension;
• wherein the trailer skirt at the same position in the longitudinal direction as the second attachment location is deformed downwards in the vertical direction upon attachment of the trailer skirt to the trailer.