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Results of a psychophysical experiment indicated that “jerk” (that is, rate of change of fore and aft acceleration) associated with the clutch-actuated gear ratio change in an automatic transmission correlated well with subjective evaluations of shift-feel. A portable device, the GMR Jerkmeter, was constructed to measure acceleration and jerk during on-the-road evaluations of transmission performance. Techniques for using Jerkmeter data in automatic transmission fluid research and development projects are discussed. Examples are given of the use of Jerkmeter data to: 1. Produce a detailed characterization of shift performance. 2. Measure effect of fluid on shift performance. 3. Study effect of changes in fluid characteristics with use.

The latest generation of internal combustion engines may emit significant levels of sub-23 nm particles. The main objective of the Horizon 2020 “DownToTen” project was to develop a robust methodology and provide policy recommendations towards the particle number (PN) emissions measurements in the sub-23 nm region. In order to achieve this target, a new portable exhaust particle sampling system (PEPS) was developed, being capable of measuring exhaust particles down to at least 10 nm under real-world conditions. The main design target was to build a system that is compatible with current PMP requirements and is characterized by minimized losses in the sub-23 nm region, high robustness against artefacts and high flexibility in terms of different PN modes investigation, i.e. non-volatile, volatile and secondary particles.

Brake wear particles are recognized as one of the dominant sources of road transport particulate matter emissions and are linked to adverse health effects and environmental impact. The UNECE mandated the Particle Measurement Program to address this issue, by developing a harmonized sampling and measurement methodology for the investigation of brake wear particles on a brake dynamometer (dyno). However, although the brake dyno approach with tightly controlled test conditions offers good reproducibility, a multitude of changing vehicle and surrounding conditions make real-driving emissions measurement a highly relevant task. Here we show two different prototypes for on-road particle measurement with minimal impact of the measurement setup on the emission behavior, tested on a brake dyno.

The two-source method was used to measure the bulk properties (complex characteristic impedance and complex wavenumber) of sound-absorbing materials, and results were compared to those obtained with the more commonly used two-cavity method. The results indicated that the two-source method is superior to the two-cavity method for materials having low absorption. Several applications using bulk properties are then presented. These include: (1) predicting the absorptive properties of an arbitrary thickness absorbing material or (2) layered material and (3) using bulk properties for a multi-domain boundary element analysis.

The target audience of this paper is assumed to be new product or marketing managers in automotive component supplier companies. In this paper the author presents a new economic valuation model that can be used for establishing and evaluating environmental pricing strategies in the automotive industry. The Environmental Economic Valuation Model (EEVM) concept presented for the first time in this paper will become one of the most important financial analytical tools to the auto industry for environmental “womb-to-tomb” assessments. This paper attempts to help new product managers understand, measure, and control key environmental issues; in product design, new product development, and total life cycle management. The intent of this paper is to help answer this challenging question: How can new product managers establish and evaluate profitable environmental pricing points throughout their product's total life cycle?

This paper describes a method for measuring the radius of curvature of mirrors by measuring the size of the reflected image. The image is generated by a video camera, captured using an image grabber board and analyzed using custom software on a standard computer. The system is shown to be capable to higher resolution than the current SAE defined spherometer and capable of determining radius of curvature over a smaller area. The latter is particularly important in using the system for measuring aspheric mirrors.

One of the most effective NVH solutions used in the automotive industry to reduce structure-borne noise is to apply vibration damping treatments to the vehicle structure. These damping treatments need to meet increasing weight reduction targets, while offering the same or better damping properties. While Liquid Applied Structural Dampers (LASD) are now delivering high damping performance at lower densities, traditional damping measuring techniques are falling short in describing the performance of these extensional layers when applied onto more realistic test samples or real structures. This paper discusses the damping performance of LASD technology, in particular the newer generations of acrylic-based waterborne LASD materials, which through improvements in polymer architecture are achieving increased damping efficiencies together with reduced density.

Diesel engine ash emissions are composed of the non-combustible portions of diesel particulate matter derived mainly from lube oil, and over time can degrade diesel particulate filter performance. This paper presents results from a high temperature oxidation method (HTOM) used to estimate ash emissions, and engine oil consumption in real-time. Atomized lubrication oil and diesel engine exhaust were used to evaluate the HTOM performance. Atomized fresh and used lube oil experiments showed that the HTOM reached stable particle size distributions and concentrations at temperatures above 700°C. The HTOM produced very similar number and volume weighted particle size distributions for both types of lube oils. The particle number size distribution was unimodal, with a geometric mean diameter of about 23 nm. The volume size distribution had a geometric volume mean diameter of about 65 nm.

West Virginia University evaluated diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) and lean-NOX catalysts as part of Diesel Emissions Control-Sulfur Effects (DECSE) project. In order to perform thermal aging of the DOC and lean-NOX catalysts simultaneously and economically, each catalyst was sized to accommodate half of the engine exhaust flow. Simultaneous catalyst aging was then achieved by splitting the engine exhaust into two streams such that approximately half of the total exhaust flowed through the DOC and half through the lean-NOX catalyst. This necessitated splitting the engine exhaust into two streams during emissions measurements. Throttling valves installed in each branch of the split exhaust were adjusted so that approximately half the engine exhaust passed though the active catalyst under evaluation and into a full flow dilution tunnel for emissions measurement.

A data collection and analysis system is described for an instrumented car research program. Transducers, electronic circuitry, and data recording are described, and data analysis procedures are indicated. Discussion includes the current experiments underway in the research program. System strengths and weakness are also indicated.

This paper explains the method used by the training staff at Cummins Engine Co. to conduct and evaluate the effectiveness of a course in Statistical Design of Experiments which was taught using videotape and Tele-Lecture at its Columbus, Indiana Research Center.

This paper presents the results of investigations into the claims of biological cleaners. The primary advantage of biological cleaning would be that these systems digest oily soils removed from metal parts to carbon dioxide and water by way of a culture of suitable bacteria and other microbes. By directly measuring carbon dioxide evolved by representative biological cleaning systems with several soils, Henkel Technologies has quantified the amount of digestion to carbon dioxide and found it to be less than expected. We have modeled system dynamics and identified input and output balances within the system

SLA IS A METHOD for precisely measuring material loss due to wear, erosion or corrosion in mechanical systems. A marker layer is activated by exposure to a particle accelerator beam. The intensity of gamma rays from this marker is then monitored by a detector mounted externally to the operating system while wear occurs. The decrease in intensity after correction for natural decay half-life results in a direct measure of wear which can be repeated at arbitrary intervals while the system is on-line and operating. Recent applications have been in diesel, gasoline and gas engine components, in utility power plants measuring solid particle erosion and corrosive wear, in oil drilling and piping, in key components in the space shuttle, and in medicine measuring ion release corrosion from prosthetic implants. This paper describes recent efforts to extend the range of this approach to much shallower activation depths and thus improve accuracy.

This is a report of the status of the development of a Band Friction Test Machine that will measure friction of automatic transmission band-drum combinations used in current production passenger cars. The fixture’s operating requirements are described, along with a detailed listing of its features. The test procedure and test data from a prototype machine are discussed. It is hoped that this machine will enable greater correlation of data in this area.

Increasing vehicle efficiency has been one of the key drivers of the automotive industry worldwide due to new government emission legislations and rising fuel costs. While original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are responding with innovative hardware designs for new models, lubricant companies are developing additive solutions to reduce frictional losses in the engine thereby increasing fuel economy of both new and existing vehicles. Fuel efficiency of the vehicle can be measured in a variety of driving cycles, including the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), Japanese JC-08, and FTP-75 (Federal Test Procedure). The type of vehicle used in fuel economy evaluation in the same cycle plays a significant role. Fuel consumption rates for the same vehicle measured in these driving cycles vary due to the differences in the cycles. Thus, to assess the effect of the lubricant on fuel efficiency in various cycles, the fuel consumption is measured relative to a reference oil.

Aircraft turbine engines generate the same pollutants that are generated by automotive reciprocating engines, but problems of emission measurement differ greatly between the two types of engines. This is a discussion of experimental work done to define more clearly the character of the turbine emissions and to gain experience in sampling and measuring the emissions. An explicit objective was to evaluate the adequacy of available instrumentation and to reveal emission measurement problems unique to the turbine engine. Results of the study showed that concentrations of gas phase pollutants in the turbine exhausts ranged from about one to three orders of magnitude lower than average concentrations of the same materials in exhausts of late model (that is, 1960-69) autos. Instrumentation now available for measuring hydrocarbon, CO, and NOx is expected to be adequate but will require appropriate adaptation for measurements at concentrations typical for turbine exhausts.

In order to assess the head and neck kinetics of human subjects exposed to low-speed rear-end impacts, a method for measuring the magnitude and line of action of the force between the head and the head restraint was required. In addition to being accurate and repeatable, the design was required to maintain original seat back and head restraint geometry, mass, stiffness, and height adjustment. This paper presents a design using strain gauges applied to the head restraint tubes, upper seat back, and custom replacements for brackets attaching the head restraint to the seat back. The background theory and free-body analysis, the analog math circuitry, and a dynamic calibration procedure are presented. Overall force magnitude and line-of-action errors are quantified, and a sample output from a human subject undergoing a rear-end collision with a speed change of 8 km/h is presented.

Automotive audio systems require signal processing to address losses of spatial rendition of stereo and multichannel sources due to off-centerline listening and the proximity of cabin walls where the speakers are located. The digital signal processing is optimized for each vehicle type and audio option by skilled tuning engineers. They spend the majority of their tuning time on spatial issues when preparing a vehicle. One reason for this is that, until now, there has been no measurement of imaging performance. Engineers have relied on the indirect measures of arrival delay, spectrum and their own hearing to balance the several speakers likely to be contributing to perceived direction, distance and ambience. This paper describes a new module for a measurement system widely used in automotive audio. In addition to assisting the tuning engineer, the system documents audio performance in Tonal Balance, Maximum Output, Distortion, and now, Spatial Rendition.

A loudspeaker's low frequency parameters can be accurately estimated by measuring individual components without the need to assemble them into a working unit. Using this development approach, much time can be saved by optimizing one component at a time rather than building an entire speaker for each iteration. To do this, one must be able to measure the relevant physical characteristics of each component (the electro-mechanical parameters). It is also necessary to be able to predict electro-acoustic performance from the electro-mechanical parameters.

The introduction of Low Observable (LO) technology on combat aircraft has produced a leap in aircraft survivability but also raised some difficult questions. How do you quantify survivability, and since new technology tends to be expensive, how LO does an aircraft need to be to accomplish its mission? This paper will show how low observability dramatically improves combat aircraft survivability by reducing an air defense's ability to detect, track, intercept and destroy an LO aircraft. Important aircraft signatures that can be detected such as radar, visual, infrared and intentional emissions are discussed in detail as well as methods to reduce those signatures. LO and mission planning tactics' impacts on threat system capabilities are examined and examples of LO aircraft penetration of a notional hostile air defense are shown.