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In vehicles such as e.g. cabriolets, parts of the skin are made of plastics as e.g. the trunk lid. This enables the integration of a 4-antenna-FM-diversity system with an excellent quality of reception. As antenna elements for mobile FM- and TV-reception a novel ring wire structure with 2 switching elements is used. An advanced concept of high input impedance amplifiers leads to a satisfying effective antenna height. Since the antenna structure is only placed along the rim of the dielectric trunk lid there is space left inside the given area for additional low profile antennas for example for AM, GPS, SDARS, GSM and PCS.

As Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services (SDARS) become more prevalent and more mature, automotive vehicle manufacturers (original equipment manufacturers or OEMs) desire to bury receive antennas into vehicles so that they can defer questions of appearance to vehicle stylists. When OEM introductions of SDARS products initially occurred (MY2002 on select Cadillac products), the technology was insufficiently mature to both meet time-to-market and styling concerns, so stylists were forced to defer to receiver designers. With the advent of SDARS diversity antenna systems, it is now possible to allow receiver designers to hand back questions of vehicle appearance to the stylists.

Digital radio broadcast systems, like HD-Radio™ and Satellite Radio, provide crystal clear sound. However, since they are essentially bits and bytes, they could also be used for distributing traffic and weather information or any other supplementary information. Due to considerably enhanced compression techniques, digital broadcast systems could also carry surround sound, which significantly improves the sound perception. Integration of the digital tuners in an automotive environment are mainly through MOST ring topologies, which allow flexibly adding different tuner modules depending on customer preferences and standards used in different markets. This paper aims at providing a more detailed insight into the aforementioned trends and developments, with a specific focus on premium segment automobiles.

The paper deals with the virtual and experimental analysis of two commercial Mechanical Brake Assist systems. They are described in detail, then modeled and experimentally evaluated through a Hardware-In-the-Loop test bench and road tests. Three different kinds of drivers are compared, from the point of view of the performance increase promised by Brake Assist during an emergency brake maneuver. The three driver types are based on the measurement of the behavior of real drivers, as it is presented in specific research activities in literature.

An Integrated type Hydraulic Brake Booster has the following benefit; With high pressure source, it can provide strong stopping power for Base Brake, especially beneficial for heavier vehicle, and precise brake control for Vehicle Dynamics Control. With integrated brake control unit, it will provide packaging flexibility and easy installation at vehicle assembly plants. At this time, we developed a new Hydraulic Brake Booster, which is smaller and lighter than previous model even with additional integration of the ECU. This report is to introduce the technology used for New Hydraulic Brake Booster to reduce weight and size, in addition to the contribution to Base Brake Performance and Vehicle Dynamics Control.

This paper applies the existing techniques used in the CAE simulation for calculation of potential high frequency (>10 kHz) squeal from disc brake system. The goal is to investigate the component interaction at the system level. A simulated dynamometer process is developed using stability analysis at different pressures and friction coefficient combinations. From the identified squealing condition, coupled with measured ODS, dynamic characteristics at system level are tracked to the components contribution based on the mode merging phenomenon as the system turns unstable due to friction coupling. The component contribution is based on the strain energy of the component in the system mode and MAC between mode components in free condition and system real modes. Special focus on rotor dynamics is discussed and its effect on system instability at high frequency range.

This two-part paper provides a systematic approach for identifying the fundamental causes of both low and high frequency brake squeal using advanced analytical and experimental methods. Also shown are methods to develop solutions to reduce or eliminate squeal by investigating effective structural countermeasures. Part I presented here is focused on low frequency squeal (2.2 & 5.5 kHz). In order to better understand the mechanism of squeal generation, this study started with the component modal alignment analysis around problem frequencies based on the component EMA (Experimental Modal Analysis) data in free-free condition. Then, the brake system EMA was conducted to gain insight into the potential system modes which caused the squeal. The last step of the brake squeal diagnosis utilized the ODS (Operational Deflection Shape) result to identify the key components involved in the squeal event.

One way of avoiding crashes or mitigating the consequences of a crash is to apply an autonomous braking system. Quantifying the benefit of such a system in terms of injury reduction is a challenge. At the same time it is a fundamental input into the vehicle development process. This paper describes a method to estimate the effectiveness of reducing speed prior to impact. A holistic view of quantifying the benefit is presented, based on existing real life crash data and basic dynamic theories. It involves a systematic and new way of examining accident data in order to extract information concerning pre-crash situations. One problem area when implementing collision mitigation systems is being able to achieve sufficient target discrimination. The results from the case study highlight frontal impact situations from real world accident data that have the greatest potential in terms of improving accident outcome.

It is well understood that conditions encountered during racetrack driving are amongst the most severe to which vehicle braking systems can be subjected. High braking pressure is combined with enormous energy input and high temperatures for multiple braking events. Brake fade, degradation of brake pedal feel, and brake lining taper/overall wear are common results of racetrack usage. This paper focuses on how racetrack and high energy driving-type conditioning affects the performance of the brake caliper - in particular, its ability to maintain an even pressure distribution at all of its interfaces (pad to rotor, piston to pad backing plate, and housing to pad backing plate).

This paper presents a mathematical model for the simulation of NOx traps during the storage and the regeneration phases. The objective is to validate the model under realistic exhaust gas conditions during NOx storage and release phases. The model is based on a previous modeling platform developed by Aristotle University which simulates the behavior of 3-way catalysts. The previous model is extended to include the additional reactions taking place on a NOx trap, with particular emphasis on the calculation of thermodynamic equilibrium effects. Moreover, the model includes the necessary reactions to simulate catalyst sulfation and de-sulfation processes. In parallel, a set of measurements are conducted under well controlled conditions with real diesel exhaust to study the storage and release phenomena under various operating conditions. The experimental data are used to calibrate the reaction kinetics and validate the model.

An analytical model was developed to simulate both sulfur adsorption and desorption characteristics based on the laboratory determined parameters. Diesel Lean NOx Trap (LNT) was tested under laboratory conditions to examine desulfation (deSOx) characteristics. Effects of different Lean/Rich (L/R) cycling of Air-Fuel ratio during the deSOx mode were investigated. The gradient of adsorbed sulfur along the axial direction of the sample LNT was also examined. The gradient of sulfur deposit, together with different L/R cycling combinations for the deSOx mode was critical to develop the efficient sulfur removal strategies. The model considered energy and mass balances during sulfur adsorption and desorption modes to predict the catalyst temperature and the amount of sulfur adsorbed and removed. HC and CO oxidation reactions as well as the oxygen storage were considered to estimate heat generated by the exothermic reactions.

A 1D+1D numerical model describing the ammonia based SCR process of NO and NO2 on vanadia-titania catalysts is presented. The model is able to simulate coated and extruded monoliths. Basing on a fundamental investigation of the catalytic processes a reaction mechanism for the NO/NO2 - NH3 reacting system is proposed and modeled. After the parameterization of the reaction mechanism the reaction kinetics have been coupled with models for heat and mass transport. Model validation has been performed with engine test bench experiments. Finally the model has been applied to study the influence of NO2 on SCR efficiency within ETC and ESC testcycles, Additional simulations have been conducted to identify the potential for catalyst volume reduction if NO2 is present in the inlet feed.

In practical applications of ammonia SCR aftertreatment systems using urea as the reductant storage compound, one major difficulty is the often constrained packaging envelope. As a consequence, complete mixing of the urea solution into the exhaust gas stream as well as uniform flow and reductant distribution profiles across the catalyst inlet face are difficult to achieve. This paper discusses a modeling approach, where a combination of 3D CFD and a lumped parameter SCR model enables the prediction of system performance, even with non-uniform exhaust flow and ammonia distribution profiles. From the urea injection nozzle to SCR catalyst exit, each step in the modeling process is described and validated individually. Finally the modeling approach was applied to a design study where the performance of a range of urea-exhaust gas mixing sections was evaluated.

A numerical model to simulate the filtration and regeneration performance of catalyzed diesel particulate filters (CPFs) was developed at Michigan Technological University (MTU). The mathematical formulation of the model and some results are described. The model is a single channel (inlet and outlet) representation of the flow while the thermal and catalytic regeneration framework is based on a 2-layer approach. The 2-layer model can simulate particulate matter (PM) oxidation by thermal and ‘catalytic’ means of oxidation with O2. Several improvements were made to this basic model and are described in this paper. A model to simulate PM oxidation by NO2/Temperature entering the particulate filter and oxidizing the PM in the two layers of the PM cake was developed. This model can be used to simulate the performance of filters with catalyst washcoats and uncatalyzed filters placed downstream of diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs), as in the continuously regenerating traps, CRT's®.

Modeling of diesel exhaust after-treatment devices is a valuable tool in the development and performance evaluation of these devices in a cost effective manner. Results from steady state loading experiments on a catalyzed particulate filter (CPF) in a Johnson Matthey CCRT®, performed with and without the upstream diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) are described in this paper. The experiments were performed at 20, 40, 60 and 75% of full load (1120 Nm) at rated speed (2100 rpm) on a Cummins ISM 2002 heavy duty diesel engine. The data obtained were used to calibrate one dimensional (1-D) DOC and CPF models developed at Michigan Technological University (MTU). The 1-D 2-layer single channel CPF model helped evaluate the filtration and passive oxidation performance of the CPF. DOC modeling results of the pressure drop and gaseous emission oxidation performance using a previously developed model are also presented.

Worldwide, the pace of development in pedestrian countermeasures is increasing rapidly. To better understand the state of the art in bumper design for pedestrian impact, a survey of literature and patents has been performed. Two general approaches to reducing the severity of pedestrian lower limb impacts were identified: (a) Provide cushioning and support of the lower limb with a bumper and a new lower stiffener, or (b) Use the bumper as a platform for impact sensors and exterior airbags. This study focused on the first approach. Excluding bumper sensors, airbags, and non-design-related articles, a total of 130 relevant technical articles and 147 patents were identified. The most common method proposed for cushioning the lower limb in an impact uses an energy absorber (plastic foam or ‘egg-crate’) in front of a semi-rigid (steel or aluminum) beam. There are also proposals for ‘spring-steel’, steel-foam composites, crush-cans, and plastic beams.

Empirical and theoretical studies are made between active-flow control and passive-flow control schemes in investigating the influences of gas flow, heat transfer, chemical reaction, oxygen concentration, and substrate properties. The exhaust active-flow control includes the parallel alternating flow, partial restricting flow, periodic flow reversal, and extended flow stagnation that are found to be especially effective to treat engine exhausts that are difficult to cope with conventional passive-flow converters [1, 2]. The tests are set up on a single cylinder Yanmar engine. Theoretical studies are performed with the one-dimensional transient modeling techniques to analyze the thermal behavior of the diesel after-treatment systems when active flow control schemes are applied.

Construction of a human pelvis finite element (FE) model with high bio-fidelity is a crucial step for achieving reliable prediction of pelvis injury due to impact loadings. Several human pelvis FE models have previously been developed and improved to investigate pelvis injury mechanisms. However, an important aspect to directly acquire heterogeneous bone material properties from in-vivo computed tomography (CT) information has not been extensively studied. In this research, a new human coxal bone FE model was constructed from in-vivo CT scans of a Japanese adult (age 25, 173 cm, 60 kg). And, heterogeneous material properties such as Young’s modulus and yield stress were deduced from in-vivo CT information of the Japanese coxal bone by using the relationship between CT Hounsfield value and bone density, in an effort to apply the obtained in-vivo material properties for a human pelvis FE model.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is one of 17 universities competing in Challenge X - Crossover to Sustainable Mobility, an international competition where teams are challenged to design, build, and test a hybrid vehicle architecture utilizing alternative fuels to reduce the energy consumption and emissions production of a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. Our first year of competition has focused on vehicle simulation in which The MathWorks SimDriveline and Stateflow toolboxes have been used almost exclusively. A model of our vehicle's split train architecture was developed in SimDriveline and Stateflow was used to develop the control strategy. This approach was extraordinarily useful as we could readily identify hazards such as high torque stresses, battery over or under voltage spikes, battery over current spikes, wheel skidding, and rpm limits. We have been continuously improving our model and control strategy to uncover new hazards and verify components specifications and limits.

Previous studies on the effect of Mg on the hardness of 319-type alloys are contradictory. The present study was conducted in an attempt to resolve this confusion and allow for a more rational choice of Mg concentration specifications. Four 319-type alloys were prepared with the following target Mg concentrations: 0.00, 0.15, 0.35 and 0.45 wt%. The addition of only 0.15 wt% Mg had a significant effect on the hardness of the alloy but further incremental additions of Mg did not produce the expected trends in hardness. Two hypotheses for this unexplained behavior are presented. This work suggests that the Mg concentration can be allowed to vary between 0.15 wt% and 0.45 wt% without significantly impacting the aging response (hardness) of the alloy.