Effects of mixture stratification on HCCI combustion of DME in a rapid compression and expansion machine

Compression ignition of homogeneous charges in internal combustion (IC) engines is expected to offer high efficiency of DI diesel engines without high levels of NOx and particulate emissions. This study is intended to find ways of extending the rich limit of HCCI operation, one of the problems yet to be overcome. Exhaust emissions characteristics are also explored through analyses of the combustion products. DME fuel, either mixed with air before induction or directly injected into the combustion chamber of a rapid compression and expansion machine, is compressed to ignite under various conditions of compression ratio, equivalence ratio, and injection timing. The characteristics of the resulting combustion and exhaust emissions are discussed in terms of the rate of heat release computed from the measured pressure, and the concentrations of THC, CO, and NOx are measured by FT-IR and CLD. The experimental data to date show that operation without knock is possible with mixtures of higher equivalence ratio when DME is directly injected rather than when it is inducted in the form of a perfectly homogeneous fuel-air mixture. Although fuel injected early in the compression stroke promotes homogeneity of the DME-air mixture in the cylinder, it causes the mixture to ignite too early to secure good thermal efficiency and knock-free operation at high loads. Low temperature reactions occur at about 660K regardless of the fueling methods, fuel injection timing and equivalence ratio. The main components of hydrocarbon emissions turned out to be unburned fuel (DME), formaldehyde and methane.     

Effect of fuel injection strategies on the combustion process in a PFI boosted SI engine

A low-cost solution based on fuel injection strategies was investigated to optimize the combustion process in a boosted port fuel injection spark ignition (PFI SI) engine. The goal was to reduce the fuel consumption and pollutant emissions while maintaining performance. The effect of fuel injection was analyzed for the closed and open valve conditions, and the multiple injection strategies (MIS) based on double and triple fuel injection in the open-valve condition. The tests were performed on an optical accessible single-cylinder PFI SI engine equipped with an external boost device. The engine was operated at full load and with a stoichiometric ratio equivalent to that of commercial gasolines. Optical techniques based on 2D-digital imaging were used to follow the flame propagation from the flame kernel to late combustion phase. In particular, the diffusion-controlled flames near the valves and cylinder walls, due to fuel deposition, were studied. In these conditions, the presence of soot was measured by two-color pyrometry, and correlated with engine parameters and exhaust emissions measured by conventional methods. The open valve fuel injection strategies demonstrated better combustion process efficiency than the closed ones. They provided very low soot levels in the combustion chamber and engine exhaust, and a reduction in specific fuel consumption. The multiple injection strategies proved to be the best solution in terms of performance, soot concentration, and fuel consumption.     

Performance analysis of a CVT clutch system for a hybrid electric vehicle

In this study, the performance of a CVT clutch system for a hybrid electric vehicle was investigated. To analyzed the vehicle performance at restart, the restart delay and driveshaft torque was investigated by simulations and experiments. It was found from the simulation results that the vehicle restart response depends on the clutch pressure buildup time to the point where the clutch torque begins to overcome the vehicle road load, and driving comfort at restart is directly related to the rate change of the clutch pressure.     

Experimental investigation of characteristics of pressure modulation in a fuel injection system

A piezoelectric atomization device achieves fuel pressure modulation through vibration of a piezoelectric pressure modulator. As a consequence, the fast alternating and slow moving streams collide with each other and further break up the fuel drop. In this paper, an experimental investigation was carried out to study the fluid dynamic characteristics of the spray atomization process of automotive port fuel injectors with a piezoelectric pressure modulator. The investigation mainly focuses on: (a) the coupling characteristics between the piezoelectric stack and the hydraulic as well as the transfer characteristics of pressure modulation from the piezoelectric modulator to the point above the orifice; (b) the time history of the pressure dynamic response at the point above the orifice under a typical modulation frequency, which reflects the variation of pressure modulation while the fuel injector is working; and (c) the time-variation characteristics related to mechanical structure and fluid dynamics. The experimental results expose some important dynamic characteristics of pressure modulation, which will be very significant and lead us to greatly improve the fuel injection system, optimize the control parameters and implement spray atomization with a high quality performance in the near future.     

Integrated fuzzy/optimal vehicle dynamic control

There are basically two methods to control yaw moment which is the most efficient way to improve vehicle stability and handling. The first method is indirect yaw moment control, which works based on control of the lateral tire force through steering angle control. It is mainly known as active steering control (ASC). Nowadays, the most practical approach to steering control is active front steering (AFS). The other method is direct yaw moment control (DYC), in which an unequal distribution of longitudinal tire forces (mainly braking forces) produces a compensating external yaw moment. It is well known that the AFS performance is limited in the non-linear vehicle handling region. On the other hand, in spite of a good performance of DYC in both the linear and non-linear vehicle handling regions, continued DYC activation could lead to uncomfortable driving conditions and an increase in the stopping distance in the case of emergency braking. It is recommended that DYC be used only in high-g critical maneuvers. In this paper, an integrated fuzzy/optimal AFS/DYC controller has been designed. The control system includes five individual optimal LQR control strategies; each one, has been designed for a specific driving condition. The strategies can cover low, medium, and high lateral acceleration maneuvers on high-μ or low-μ roads. A fuzzy blending logic also has been utilized to mange each LQR control strategy contribution level in the final control action. The simulation results show the advantages of the proposed control system over the individual AFS or DYC controllers.     

Study of RCM-based maintenance planning for complex structures using soft computing technique

To guarantee the efficiency of maintenance strategies for a complex structure, safety and cost limitations must be considered. This research introduces RCM-based (Reliability Centered Maintenance) life cycle optimization for reasonable maintenance. The design variable is the reliability of each part, which consists of a complex structure, while the objective is to minimize the total cost function in order to maintain the system within the desired system reliability. This research constructs the cost function that can reflect the current operating condition and maintenance characteristics of individual parts by generating essential cost factors. To identify the optimal reliability of each component in a system, this paper uses a Neuro-Evolutionary technique. Additionally, this research analyzes the reliability growth of a system by using the AMSAA (Army Material Systems Analysis Activity) model to estimate the failure rate of each part. The MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) and the failure rate of the whole system, which is responding to the individual parts, are estimated based on the history data by using neural networks. Finally, this paper presents the optimal life cycle of a complex structure by applying the optimal reliability and the estimated MTBF to the RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) algorithm.     

双绞合钢丝网加筋格宾挡土墙设计方法研究

采用六边形双绞合金属网面,经工厂化生产形成面墙,面墙与金属网面无接点整体连接形成一种新的加筋结构-加筋格宾结构,目前国内工程应用较少,相应的计算理论与设计方法滞后,难以满足工程需要.研究表明,双绞合钢丝网加筋格宾挡土墙比传统的条带式加筋、土工格栅挡土墙的稳定性好得多,适合于修筑高大及高等级公路的挡土墙.在吸收国外先进加筋技术的基础上,通过拉伸、拉拔试验合理确定了相关设计参数,采用室内大型模型试验,确定了加筋格宾结构的滑动破裂面形状,提出了一整套该新型结构的计算与设计方法.     

基于安全可靠性的多类用户交通分配模型

为探究出行安全对用户出行选择行为的影响,提出了考虑事故风险成本和旅行时间的多类用户交通分配模型。针对事故发生的随机性特征,定义了路径出行安全可靠性概念,并以此计算用户的事故风险成本预算,体现出行者的安全偏好。基于考虑事故机会和事故风险的基础事故预测模型,针对路段和交叉口的不同特征,分别定义了路段和交叉口的事故风险成本分布。构建的交叉口事故风险成本模型,体现了交叉口不同转向的事故风险成本的差异性。为了求解基于安全可靠性的多类用户交通分配模型,采用路径配流法和相继平均法设计了相应的求解算法,并通过算例分析了模型和算法的有效性。研究结果表明：安全可靠性在用户出行选择中具有重要影响。当在广义出行费用中考虑事故风险成本时,出行者会更多地选择事故风险成本较小的路径;不同风险倾向的用户会有不同的选择特征,保守型出行者倾向于选择路径事故风险成本标准差相对较小的路径,即事故风险成本波动小的路径,而中立型出行者倾向于选择事故风险成本均值相对较低的路径;考虑交叉口的事故风险成本与否会直接影响流量分配结果,即路径交叉口数量和转向的差异性同样会影响出行者的选择。所提出的模型对于客流预测和网络安全评价与管理具有潜在的应用价值。     

机械电子技术在未来铁道车辆中的应用与发展(待续)

全面介绍了机械电子技术在未来铁道车辆特别是悬挂系统、牵引系统和制动系统中的应用和发展。     

浅水中航行船舶的水动力系数

本文利用切片理论数值研究了浅水中前进船舶的水动力系数.为计及水深的影响,采用简单格林函数方法求解剖面水动力系数,提出了满足辐射条件的一种较方便的数值方法.计算了一数学船型的水动力系数,并与有关文献结果比较验证了数值方法的可行性.数值结果显示了水底效应对航行船舶水动力的影响,为进一步研究浅水航行船舶的耐波性提供了基础.