Intrazonal or interzonal? Improving intrazonal travel forecast in a four-step travel demand model

Transportation - Conventional four-step travel demand models, used by most metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), state departments of transportation, and local planning agencies, are the...     

Modeling of Double Lane Change Maneuver of Vehicles

Lane change maneuver is one of most riskiest driving tasks. In order to increase the safety level of the vehicles during this maneuver, design of lane change assist systems which are based on dynamics behavior of driver-vehicle unit is necessary. Therefore, modeling of the maneuver is the first step to design the driver assistance system. In this paper, a novel method for modeling of lateral motion of vehicles in the standard double-lane-change (DLC) maneuver is proposed. A neuro-fuzzy model is suggested consisting of both the vehicle orientation and its lateral position. The inputs of the model are the current orientation, lateral position and steering wheel angle, while the predicted lateral position and orientation of the vehicle are the outputs. The efficiency of the proposed method is verified using both simulation results and experimental tests. The simulation and experimental maneuvers are performed in different velocities. It is shown that the proposed method can effectively reduce the undesirable effects of environmental disturbances and is significantly more accurate in comparisons with the results in the recent available papers. This method can be used to personalize the advanced driver assistance systems.     

Sensitivity analysis and optimisation of suspension bushing using Taguchi method and grey relational analysis

In this paper, a novel method is presented for investigating suspension bushing based on mechanical properties of the bushing, their effective directions, spring stiffness and damping coefficient of bushing. The vehicle vibration model and suspension geometry parameters are used to optimise the vehicle suspension based on multi-body dynamics simulation (ADAMS/CAR) initially. Several experiment tests based on ISO 4128 and ISO 7401 have been performed in one of main Iranian automaker (SAIPA) in order to verify the ADAMS/CAR model. The grey relational analysis based on using Taguchi L27 orthogonal array is used to obtain the optimum suspension. Then the bushing characteristics are optimised considering the indicated method. This method considers a combination of ride comfort and handling qualities of vehicle as objective functions simultaneously. The results of optimum suspension are compared with typical Renault Logan which declares the accuracy and efficiency of this method in optimising suspension bushing.     

The Horsepower Reserve Formulation of Driveability for a Vehicle Fitted With a Continuously Variable Transmission

Summary A systematic methodology is developed for choosing the optimum ratio trajectory of a continuously variable transmission in a passenger vehicle. The optimum CVT ratio schedule is formulated as a constrained optimization problem with maximum fuel economy as the objective function and driveability concerns and physical limitations included as the constraints. The key notion to achieving good driveability is the introduction and definition of a horsepower reserve function that creates a consistent and desirable vehicle response under different driving conditions. Simulation results compare the optimized schedule's performance with several other possible ratio schedules, including the minimum brake specific fuel consumption map. Results from the optimized schedule indicate only a mild tradeoff between driveability and fuel economy relative to the other ratio schedules. The ratio optimization problem formulation and solution provide a novel and unique approach for systematically addressing driveability and fuel economy considerations associated with a continuously variable transmission.     

An efficient sensitivity analysis method for modified geometry of Macpherson suspension based on Pearson correlation coefficient

The main purpose of this paper is to propose a new method for designing Macpherson suspension, based on the Sobol indices in terms of Pearson correlation which determines the importance of each member on the behaviour of vehicle suspension. The formulation of dynamic analysis of Macpherson suspension system is developed using the suspension members as the modified links in order to achieve the desired kinematic behaviour. The mechanical system is replaced with an equivalent constrained links and then kinematic laws are utilised to obtain a new modified geometry of Macpherson suspension. The equivalent mechanism of Macpherson suspension increased the speed of analysis and reduced its complexity. The ADAMS/CAR software is utilised to simulate a full vehicle, Renault Logan car, in order to analyse the accuracy of modified geometry model. An experimental 4-poster test rig is considered for validating both ADAMS/CAR simulation and analytical geometry model. Pearson correlation coefficient is applied to analyse the sensitivity of each suspension member according to vehicle objective functions such as sprung mass acceleration, etc. Besides this matter, the estimation of Pearson correlation coefficient between variables is analysed in this method. It is understood that the Pearson correlation coefficient is an efficient method for analysing the vehicle suspension which leads to a better design of Macpherson suspension system.