Application of a thermodynamic model with a complex chemistry to a cycle resolved knock prediction on a spark ignition optical engine

A combination of experimental and numerical methodologies is proposed for the investigation of knocking in spark ignition engines to aid in better understanding the physical and chemical processes that occur and to exploit the capabilities of a developed computational tool. The latter consists of a thermo-fluid dynamics model, which is part of an advanced 1-D fluid dynamics code for the simulation of the entire engine, and a complex chemistry model, which can be embedded into the thermo-fluid dynamics model using the same integration algorithm for the conservation equations and the reacting species. Their mutual interaction in the energy balance will be considered. The experimental activity was carried out in the combustion chamber of an optically accessible, single-cylinder P.F.I. engine equipped with a commercial head. The experimental data consisted of optical measurements correlated to the combustion and auto-ignition processes within the cylinder. The optical measurements were based on 2-D digital imaging, UV visible natural emission spectroscopy and the chemiluminescence of radical species (OH and HCO). The engine parameters, the pressure signals of the related data and optical acquisition are compared on an individual cycle basis in the simulation by running the engine at a constant speed and varying the spark advance from normal combustion to heavy knock conditions.     

Emission analysis of a compressed natural gas directinjection engine with a homogenous mixture

In an era in which environmental pollution and depletion of world oil reserves are of major concern, emissions produced by automotive vehicles need to be controlled and reduced. An ideal solution is to switch to a cleaner fuel such as natural gas, which generates cleaner emissions. In addition, control over the in-cylinder air-fuel mixture can be best achieved through a direct-injection mechanism, which can further improve combustion efficiency. This need for cleaner automobiles provides the motivation for this paper’s examination of the use of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to analyze the concentrations of the exhaust gases produced by a compressed natural gas engine with a direct-fuel-injection system. In this work, a compressed natural gas direct-injection engine has been designed and developed through a numerical simulation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to provide an insight into complex in-cylinder behavior. The emissions analyzed in this study were carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), i.e. the main pollutants produced by natural gas combustion. Based on a stoichiometric mixture, the concentrations of CO and NO were computed using the dissociation of carbon dioxide and the extended Zeldovich mechanism. CO₂ was calculated using a mass balance of the species involved in the combustion process. The simulation results were then compared with the experimental data generated by a single-cylinder research engine test rig. A good agreement was obtained with the experimental data for the engine speeds considered for all emissions concentrations.     

Comparison of Dynamic Models of Mr Damper for Hardware in the Loop Simulation of Large-Sized Buses

The present study has focused on the comparison of MR damper dynamic models for the purpose of hardware in the loop simulation. A vehicle dynamic model for large-sized bus and a control logic for MR damper was built. Two typical MR damper models, viz. Bouc-Wen and hyperbolic tangent model have been considered in this study and the advantages and disadvantages of each model on the aspect of HILS system is discussed. We discussed the limitations of each model based on the analysis of the vehicle dynamic simulation. The results showed that the existing models are not suitable for HILS system. We proposed the modified hyperbolic tangent model by adopting low-pass filters. The results from the simulation showed the advantages of the modified model which were validated through HILS system.     

Design for Headrest Including Guides Slot to Reduce the Neck Force in Rear End Impact

Whiplash injuries are one of the most common injuries reported in automotive rear end collisions. Automobile seat back and head restraints play a role in reducing neck injuries during low speed rear end collisions. Currently, many studies are being conducted on ways to reduce neck injuries. These deal with the design parameters that cause neck injuries and do not address the design of the head restraint connection structure. In this paper, we analyze the various trajectories of the headrest and propose a new design for a connection structure that can move along the corresponding trajectory. We model the headrest connection mechanism as a virtual link using kinematic modeling and perform trajectory analysis. Using the trajectory of motion, we select an oblong shape for the guide slot by fitting it with the equation of an ellipse and propose a new headrest connection mechanism. To evaluate the design of the proposed mechanism, we model the shape of the mechanism and test it using dynamic simulation under collision conditions. In addition, we design a prototype for the proposed guide, conduct a sled test, and confirm that the neck force is reduced by the proposed connection structure. In the proposed structure, the values of maximum upper neck shear and tension decreased by more than 20 % compared to existing headrest.     

An advanced theory of thin-walled girders with application to ship vibrations

The paper presents an outline of the advanced theory of thin-walled girders. The improvement includes shear influence on torsion as an extension of shear influence on bending. The analogy between bending and torsion is recognized and pointed out throughout the paper. Complete differential equations of coupled flexural and torsional vibrations for a prismatic girder are derived. In addition, the 8 d.o.f. beam finite element, utilizing the energy approach, is constituted with stiffness and mass matrices, and load vectors. The paper describes determining of geometrical properties of multi-cell open cross-sections by employing the strip element method. Numerical procedures for vibration analyses are outlined. Furthermore, dry natural vibrations of a VLCS (Very Large Container Ship) are analysed by 1D FEM model as a prerogative for hydroelastic analyses of these relatively flexible vessels. Influence of transverse bulkheads is taken into account by increasing torsional stiffness of the ship hull proportionally to their deformation energies. Validation of 1D FEM model is checked by correlation analysis with the vibration response of the fine 3D FEM model.     

Design of vehicle of on-glass 4×4 MIMO antennas for WiBro applications

This paper proposes on-glass 4×4 MIMO antennas with broad bandwidth and high radiation gain, suitable for receiving WiBro internet applications in a commercial sedan. For the individual antenna body, we used a triangular-shaped patch that most efficiently satisfies broad-matching bandwidth. Then the inside of the triangular patch was partially removed to broaden the driver’s field of view. To obtain detailed design parameters that exhibit optimum radiating performance, we used a genetic algorithm (GA) in conjunction with a full wave EM simulator and varied the feeding locations of four antennas so as to increase throughput capacity for effective data transmission. The proposed antenna showed ?10 dB matching bandwidth and a measured average gain of about 4.77 dBi along the bore-sight direction (θ = 90°, ? = 180°) in the entire WiBro band (2.3–2.4 GHz). To confirm the MIMO performance in a real situation, we measured the commercial WiBro signal using the proposed antennas in an urban environment. The correlation coefficients among the antennas were calculated, and the result revealed an average value of 0.105.     

A numerical study of stochastic larval settlement in the California Current system

Key to the predictive understanding of many nearshore marine ecosystems is the transport of larvae by ocean circulation processes. Many species release thousands to billions of larvae to develop in pelagic waters, but only a few lucky ones successfully settle to suitable habitat and recruit to adult life stages. Methodologies for predicting the larval dispersal are still primitive, and simple diffusive analyses are still used for many important applications. In this study, we investigate mechanisms of larval dispersal using idealized simulations of time-evolving coastal circulations in the California Current system with Lagrangian particles as models for planktonic larvae. Connectivity matrices, which describe the source-to-destination relationships for larval dispersal for a given larval development time course, are used to diagnose the time–space dynamics of larval settlement. The resulting connectivity matrices are shown to be a function of several important time scales, such as the planktonic larval duration, the frequency and duration of larval release events and inherent time scales for the coastal circulations. Many important fishery management applications require knowledge of fish stocks on a year-to-year or generation-to-generation basis. For these short time scales (typically less than 1 year), larval dispersal is generally far from a simple diffusive process and the consideration of the stochastic and episodic nature of larval dispersal is required. This work provides new insights into the spatial–temporal dynamics of nearshore fish stocks.     

Hydraulic control system design for a PHEV considering motor thermal management

In this paper, a design method for a PHEV hydraulic control system was proposed considering motor thermal management. Dynamic models of the target PHEV were developed including the hydraulic system, which consists of one mechanical and one electric oil pump. The required motor cooling flow was designed based on the motor temperature, which was obtained from a one-dimensional thermal equivalent circuit model including the heat source and oil spray cooling. Combining the PHEV powertrain model, hydraulic control system model, and the motor thermal model including the cooling system, an integrated simulator was developed for the target PHEV. Using the integrated simulator, the temperatures of MG1 and MG2 were investigated for various motor cooling flow rates when the PHEV underwent a highway driving cycle. The energy consumption of the hydraulic control system was also evaluated. It was found from the simulation results that a hydraulic control system of the target PHEV could be designed that satisfied the required flow for the motor cooling, lubrication and brake control using the design procedure proposed in this study.     

Morphological Change and Number-Size Distributions of Particulate Matter (PM) from a Diesel Generator Operated with Wood Pyrolysis Oil-Butanol Blended Fuel

This report details our experimental study investigating particulate matter (PM) emissions from a diesel generator fueled with wood pyrolysis oil (WPO)–butanol blended fuel for electricity generation. Particle number-size distributions and PM mass concentrations from diesel, n-butanol, and WPO-butanol blended fuels were investigated via aerosol measurements using a fast mobility particle sizer and an aerosol monitor with three generator outputs (0, 3.3, and 6.6 kWe). For the n-butanol and WPO-blended fuels, the total number concentrations of exhaust particles were higher than that of conventional diesel combustion; however, the PM mass was observed to be nearly zero for all the engine operating conditions due to the higher number concentration in the nuclei mode. The morphology of the exhaust particles was investigated by analyzing transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. The morphology of the particles was drastically changed according to the test fuels and engine loads. Two types of particles were observed, including soot and coke shaped particles. These results were directly related to the immaturity of incipient soot particles due to the different physical properties and chemical compositions of the fuels.     

Thermo-oxidative degradation of a carbon black compounded EPDM rubber hose

A method to measure the crosslink density of carbon black was used to analyze the aging behavior of a radiator hose made of carbon black filled EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) rubber under thermo-oxidative stresses. The crosslink density and the strength of the skin of the rubber specimens initially decreased slightly but then increased over time. The elongation at the break considerably reduced and did not show any similarity to the behaviors of the crosslink density. A possible cause of this reaction might be from the formation of rigid sulphoxide crosslinks and the crosslinks produced by the reaction of unvalcunized sulfurs. Aging the rubber specimens at 180°C caused a slight increase in the crosslink density and a large decrease in tensile strength and elongation. The aging experiment also caused a rapid increase of microhardness in the surface skin region. The formation of carbonyl groups in EPDM molecule chains and the formation of rigid sulphoxide crosslink, rather than the crosslink density variation, may have had a large influence. The changing behaviours of the mechanical properties, molecule chains and crosslinks showed significantly different characteristics in the skin and the interior with aging temperature and time.