Search Results

This paper illustrates how vehicle programmes can be driven from a unified, change controlled set of assumptions held in a structure which is common across resource planning, cycle planning, programme definition, Bill of Materials, finance and weight activities. The benefits of this approach include a consistent view of the product across functions such as engineering, purchasing, manufacturing and finance, the ability to identify issues arising from corporate and programme goal conflict, and consistent reporting of programme information from a single-point authored source throughout a product's life cycle. It also enables a cross-programme view for planning shared usage of system families and variants.

This paper proposes that logical, reliability-based thinking be applied to the establishment of post-launch periodic re-validation plans. A Bayesian reliability framework may serve as a tool for managing issues related to continual conformance. For an organization that already has a standardized, reliability-based product development process, planning continual conformance strategies is a natural extension of that process. In planning periodic re-validations, the focus should be on potential failure modes related to manufacturing processes and fluctuations in supplied parts quality. An application example using an automotive part is presented to demonstrate how this may be done.

Since the vehicle AMT(Automatic Manual Transmission) has been developed to meet the requirements of high quality vehicles as well as hybrid vehicles, there are more and more tasks running on the ECU (Electronically Controlled Unit). Concerned with both function correctness and timing correctness, the scheduling of those tasks becomes important. A perfect scheduler, which distributes the proper task working during the proper time, can not only make the best use of the ECU, but also predict its capacity rationally. Compared with ordinary algorithm such as clock driven scheduler, static and dynamic priority-driven scheduler as well as round robin scheduler, this paper proposes an offline-designed Blended Timer-triggered Scheduler (BTTS) for AMT control. BTTS can coordinate periodical and event-triggered tasks in one envelope. It designates the available time slice for each task, which can make each critical task run at the proper time.

One of the goals of designing engineering systems is to maximize the system's reliability. A reliable system must satisfy its functional requirements without failure throughout its intended lifecycle. The typical means to achieve a desirable level of reliability is through preventive maintenance of a system; however, this involves cost. A more fundamental approach to the problem is to maximize the system's reliability by preventing failures from occurring. A key question is to find mechanisms (and the means to implement them into a system) that will prevent its system range from going out of the design range. Functional periodicity is a means to achieve this goal. Three examples are discussed to illustrate the concept. In the new electrical connector design, it is the geometric functional periodicity provided by the woven wire structure. In the case of integrated manufacturing systems, it is the periodicity in scheduling of the robot motion.

At Sussex our attempts to introduce Formula SAE were initially slow and the results disappointing. At the same time we were developing and introducing modules in our engineering programmes that were entirely project-based, and in one case, included only e-learning, (with no lectures) after an introductory briefing. Formula SAE made faltering progress whilst it remained a voluntary activity. Support of a voluntary group by means of individually assessed projects at both undergraduate and masters level simply led to a series of unconnected technologies, although they were to prove of value later. Project-based activity in engineering had three distinctive characteristics which were to form our approach to Formula SAE: the need for a strong team ethos from the start of the project; an acceptance of the importance of process, and in particular project planning; and strong communication.

With the application of valve timing strategy to inlet and exhaust valves, Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion was achieved by varying the amount of trapped residuals through negative valve overlap on a Ricardo Hydra four-stroke port fuel injection engine fueled with ethanol. The effect of ethanol on HCCI combustion and emission characteristics at different air-fuel ratios, speeds and valve timings was investigated. The results indicate that HCCI ethanol combustion can be achieved through changing inlet and exhaust valve timings. HCCI ethanol combustion range can be expanded to high speeds and lean burn mixture. Meanwhile, the factors influencing ignition timing and combustion duration are valve timing, lambda and speeds. Moreover, NOx emissions are extremely low under HCCI combustion. The emissions-speed and emissions-lambda relationships are obtained and analyzed.

An experimental test bench has been developed to study the effect of flow on the corrosion behavior of the internal surface of heater core tubes. The experimental device allows the electrochemical behavior of the system to be investigated under different liquid compositions, different temperatures (between 40 and 80°C) and different fluid velocities (between 0.5 m/s and 1.5 m/s) at different test duration (up to 100h). The study is focused on the water side corrosion resistance of brazed AA4343/AA3003*/AA4343 material, i.e. the residual Al-Si cladding. The increase of the temperature has a preponderant influence on the corrosion rate by comparison with the variation of the fluid velocity. The increase of fluid velocity rather limits the corrosion degradation.

In this paper, we will present an innovative torque sensor design which could be preferably used in Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) application. This torque sensor is a non-contact Hall effect design. The specificity of this structure is its ability to measure the shift angle between two rotating shafts linked by a torsion bar. This measurement is done with stationary electronic components. This unique structure generates enough magnetic flux variation to measure angular shifts from +/-1° to +/-8° with low-cost standard Hall ASICs available from various suppliers. This torque sensor has convinced automotive industry due to its good performances, its compact dimension and a price compatible with the market expectation for this application.

This paper introduces newly developed suspension system for the all-new SantaFe model of Hyundai Motor Company which will be on the market this year. The new suspension of the all-new SantaFe has been developed to give better handling and driving confidence to a driver compared to the previous model while maintaining a good ride experience. To achieve these targets, the suspension has been fully changed and finely adjusted. The compliance characteristics have been contrasted to those of the previous model. Also, the crash performance and package efficiency which are related to suspension layout has been considered without limitation of suspension performance. Based on the customer’s voice of market, the suspension of the newly developed SantaFe has tried to fit the various customer’s demands.

Hydroplaning behavior of a single tire running in stationary, undisturbed water of constant depth is a well-studied phenomenon, and has been examined both theoretically and experimentally. Most experimental tire studies have been conducted on drum or flat-track test machines or with towed tires, and correlative expressions for hydroplaning of a single tire have been developed from such tests. Vehicle testing, on the other hand, has typically involved full-scale, proving ground experiments in which gross vehicle motion and behavior were of interest without regard to individual tire contributions. In the present work, we examine the behavior of a vehicle with rear tires running in a path partially cleared by the front tires. Under such conditions, it can no longer be assumed that the rear tires are experiencing the same hydrodynamic conditions as the front tires, nor does their behavior correlate well with conditions obtained from individual tire testing.

The technology for a new, high-strength piston material has been developed by using high pressure die casting (HPDC) method, which had a rapid rate of solidification. This method allowed the amount of Ni added to be increased to 5.5 mass%, raising the fatigue strength of the new material at temperatures of 523 K or higher by a factor of 1.5 over that of a conventional material made by gravity die casting (GDC). In addition, application of vacuum to the die cavity and using additional pressure enabled quality exceeding that of conventional GDC pistons. Pistons made from the newly developed material decreased engine friction by 4.4% and increased fuel efficiency by 2.2% in engine bench testing.

This research uses simulations of vehicle-pedestrian collisions to determine if the risk of pedestrian head injury is greater from impact with the vehicle or from impact with the ground, and to determine the influence of vehicle speed, vehicle type, and pedestrian stance on the injury risk. Five speeds, two vehicle types and four pedestrian stances are examined. In addition, a smaller set of simulations is included to determine the influence of body orientation just prior to ground impact. As anticipated, risk of head injury from both the vehicle and the ground tends to increase with vehicle speed, but injury risk from the ground is less predictable. At lower speeds, the vehicle tends to pose a greater risk of injury than does the ground, while at higher speeds the probability of injury from both the vehicle and ground is typically very large.

Recent studies [2, 3, 4] have shown that with increase of the blue spectral content in the peripheral part of a headlamp beam pattern the visibility during night is also increased, especially at low ambient illumination. On the other hand several studies [2, 5, 8] have shown that the blue spectral content of a headlamp, although having no significant influence on disability glare, nevertheless increases discomfort glare for the opposing traffic. It follows that the effect of color can positively be used to both increase visibility and reduce discomfort glare if (for right-hand traffic) it provides a maximum amount of blue spectral content in the right peripheral region and a minimum amount of blue spectral content in the left peripheral region, while still lying within SAE white. Special light sources, to be used in conventional headlamps, have been developed to form such optimized beam patterns.

The opposed piston opposed cylinder (opoc™) engine concept has been demonstrated as an engine concept with high specific power density and high power to volume ratio. The engine has several potential applications, including use as an auxiliary power unit (APU) in various commercial and military applications and as the primary power source for small unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). An engine in this power range operating on heavy fuels (e.g. JP5, JP8, DF2) is not typically available. The engine uses a two-cycle supercharged uniflow scavenging system with asymmetric port timing and will run at speeds between 8,000 and 12,000 rpm. The unique design of the opoc™ engine produces a piston speed that is half the speed of a typical crankshaft engine running at the same speed. Uniflow scavenging produces gas exchange efficiencies rivaling those of four-cycle engines. The design also leads to reduced in-cylinder heat losses. Furthermore, the opoc™ engine is fully balanced.

Steering reaction torque is one of the most important types of information for drivers since it has significant influence on vehicle maneuverability. Even with today's advanced simulation technology, however, it is very difficult to accurately simulate steering feeling. The purpose of this study is to develop a steering Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulator that can quantitatively evaluate steering systems. This simulator can control the force on the tie rod with simple mechanism. The validity of this HIL simulator has been ascertained by comparing the simulation results with those obtained during actual vehicle testing.The preliminary research concerning the advanced simulators based on the developed HIL simulator is also reported.

The application of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF's) is expanding in the European, Japanese and US markets to comply with the tighter PM regulations. SiC DPF's, featuring greater robustness, have been applied extensively to passenger cars and are expanding into larger sizes for Light Duty Trucks applications. The SiC-DPF has higher mechanical strength when compared to other materials, such as Cordierite. However, SiC's thermal expansion ratio is greater. Therefore, the SiC-DPF is designed with 35 X 35mm segments and cement bonded construction, both of which function to relieve thermal stress. The appearance of the SiC-DPF with the segment design is shown in Figure 1. In this paper, the thermal stress mechanism of the segmented joint during soot regeneration and the influence of the cement properties on the thermal shock resistance was investigated by using the soot regeneration model and thermal stress analysis in addition to the engine test.

A test load specification is required to validate an automotive product to meet the durability and design life requirements. Traditionally in the automotive industry, load specifications for design validation tests are directly given by OEMs, which are generally developed from an envelop of generic customer usage profiles and are, in most cases, over-specified. In recent years, however, there are many occasions that a proposed load specification for a particular product is requested. The particular test load specification for a particular product is generated based on the measured load data at its mounting location on the given type of vehicles, which contains more realistic time domain load levels and associated frequency contents. The measured time domain load is then processed to frequency domain test load data by using the fast Fourier transform and damage equivalent techniques.

An Integral Receiver-Dryer Condenser (IRDC) is one amongst the many recent developments in the field of automotive air-conditioning system. With proper design, these condensers facilitate an increase in the A/C system performance with reduced packaging space and refrigerant charge. The performance of these condensers depends on different parameters like the charge quantity, size of the receiver, subcooling area, pass structure, position of the receiver with respect to the condenser passes and liquid-vapor separation in the receiver. If these parameters are not taken into consideration in the design of an IRDC, the condenser may not give the desired cooling performance, which in turn will affect air-conditioning system performance. We discuss these parameters in detail and their effect on the performance of an IRDC in an A/C system.

Statistical studies of collision and non-collision fires abound, founded upon information in publicly available collision and fire incident data bases. Recent efforts to improve the quality and reliability of the data within such databases have included the development of vehicle fire investigator training materials for motor vehicle crash investigators. These materials will be available to investigators both as a computer-based training system for remote learning and as a classroom seminar. When completed, the computer-based training course will be publicly available. The computer-based training course is based on published and unpublished research on vehicle fires, material properties and ignition characteristics. Topics include a discussion of combustible fluids and materials, ignition sources, burn patterns, arson, hybrid vehicles and vehicle design, as well as background information on fire science, automotive systems, and design and investigation standards.

This paper presents a platform-based approach for the design of System-on-Chips for safety-critical microcontrollers, in which a set of HW and SW IPs, tools and methodologies are used for detection and correction of faults affecting the different parts of the electronic equipment. The IEC 61508 norm has been used as guideline and a systematic validation methodology with fault injection is presented. The paper shows an application of this approach to a PHILIPS reference platform, and first results are given in terms of benefits and costs.