Effect of injection condition and swirl on D.I. diesel combustion in a transparent engine system

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of injection conditions and swirl on D.I. diesel combustion using a transparent engine system. The test engine is equipped with a common rail injection system to control injection conditions and to obtain split injection characteristics. A combustion analysis and steady flow test were conducted to measure the heat release rate due to cylinder pressure and the swirl ratio. In addition, spray and diffusion flame images were obtained using a high speed camera. The LII & LIS methods were also used to obtain 2-D soot and droplet distributions. High injection pressure was found to shorten ignition delay, as well as to enhance peak pressure. The results also revealed that the heat release rate in the premixed combustion region was markedly reduced through the use of pilot injection, while the soot distribution and the heat release rate in the diffusion combustion region were increased. The swirl effect was found to shorten ignition delay at certain injection timings, and to enhance the heat release rate in all experimental conditions.     

Development of evolutionary cone type LSD for SUV/RV utilizing the axiomatic approach and the ultrasonic nano crystal surface modification technology

Surface topology, cone angle and the forces acting on the cone of the clutch type limited slip differential (LSD) are major design parameters for the bias ratio and the noise condition. Therefore much research has been dedicated to these developments but the results have been used to submit patents. A new cone type limited slip differential for sport utility vehicles and recreational vehicles, which has a very simple structure and easy compliance with the vehicle performance, has been developed by the axiomatic approach and the ultrasonic nano crystal surface modification (UNSM) technology. The design criteria and optimal value of the design parameters are determined by the axiomatic approach utilizing CAE tools. Test methodologies in a test rig and in a vehicle were also developed. Test results showed good performance of bias ratio and noise level but durability is still under testing. This study is an extension of F2006P266, FISITA 2006.     

Design of Integrated Chassis Control logics for AFS and ESP

The performance of most electronic chassis control systems in the past has been optimized individually. Recently, a great research effort has been dedicated to the integration of chassis control systems in an effort to improve the vehicle performance. This involves orchestration of individual control modules so that they can jointly contribute to the enhancement of their control effect. In this research, two integrated control logics for AFS (Active Front Steering) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) have been developed. Of the two logics, one uses a supervisor that rules over the individual modules. The other logic uses a CL (Characteristic Locus) method, which is a frequency-domain multivariable control technique. The two logics have been tested under various driving conditions to investigate their control effects. The results indicate that the proposed integrated control logics can yield vehicle performance that is superior to that of the individual control modules without any integration scheme.     

Tensile properties of different chemical compositions for TRIP-assisted multiphase steel for automobile structures

The microstructural changes and the tensile properties of TRIP-assisted steels resulting from different chemical compositions were investigated by using SEM, TEM, XRD and UTM. As a result of microscopic observation, the morphology of retained austenite could be characterized by two types: a granular type in steel containing higher Si and a film type in steel having higher C. In the case of the steel containing higher C with a tensile strength of 860 MPa and a total elongation of 38%, the film type retained austenite could be observed among the lath bainitic ferrites. Actually, the metastable retained austenite was required for good formability, which means that the chemical composition plays a significant role in the microstructure and tensile property of TRIP-assisted steel. With respect to the tensile property, each steel type that contained an suitable amount of Si and Mn demonstrated a typical TRIP effect on a stress-strain curve while steel that contained a higher Mn content exhibited similar behaviors, as demonstrated in the dual phase steels.     

Computational study on the effects of volume ratio of DOC/DPF and catalyst loading on the PM and NOx emission control for heavy-duty diesel engines

The use of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in a diesel aftertreatment system has proven to be an effective and efficient method for removing particulate matter (PM) in order to meet more stringent emission regulations without hurting engine performance. One of the favorable PM regeneration technologies is the NO₂-assisted regeneration method due to the capability of continuous regeneration of PM under a much lower temperature than that of thermal regeneration. In the present study, the thermal behavior of the monolith during regeneration and the conversion efficiency of NO₂ from NO with an integrated exhaust system of a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and DPF have been predicted by one-channel numerical simulation. The simulation results of the DOC, DPF, and integrated DOC-DPF models are compared with experimental data to verify the accuracy of the present model for the integrated DOC and DPF modeling. The effects of catalyst loading inside the DOC and the volume ratio between the DOC and DPF on the pressure drop, the conversion efficiency, and the oxidation rate of PM, have been numerically investigated. The results indicate that the case of the volume ratio of ‘DOC/DPF=1.5’ within the same diameter of both monoliths produced close to the maximum conversion efficiency and oxidation rate of PM. Under the engine operating condition of 175 kW at 2200 rpm, 100% load with a displacement of 8.1, approximately 55 g/ft³ of catalyst (Pt) loading inside the DOC with the active Pt surface of 5.3 m²/g_pt was enough to maximize the conversion efficiency and oxidation rate of PM.     

Artificial intelligence for traffic signal control based solely on video images

Learning-based traffic control algorithms have recently been explored as an alternative to existing traffic control logics. The reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm is being spotlighted in the field of adaptive traffic signal control. However, no report has described the implementation of an RL-based algorithm in an actual intersection. Most previous RL studies adopted conventional traffic parameters, such as delays and queue lengths to represent a traffic state, which cannot be exactly measured on-site in real time. Furthermore, the traffic parameters cannot fully account for the complexity of an actual traffic state. The present study suggests a novel artificial intelligence that uses only video images of an intersection to represent its traffic state rather than using handcrafted features. In simulation experiments using a real intersection, consecutive aerial video frames fully addressed the traffic state of an independent four-legged intersection, and an image-based RL model outperformed both the actual operation of fixed signals and a fully actuated operation.     

Developing a conceptual model for sharing container terminal resources: a case study of the Gamman container terminal

It is an important matter closely connected with saving logistics costs, as well as encouraging national competitive power, to improve the productivity of container terminals by efficient utilization of container terminal resources. In this respect, this paper tries to suggest a conceptual model for sharing container terminal resources, taking as a case study the Gamman Container Terminal (GCT) in the port of Pusan. In so doing, it identifies what kinds of resources can be systematically shared from the viewpoint of their common use and draws some problems resulting from terminal operation by four operators at GCT. The model does not imply the conception that each terminal has its own resources individually, but recommends that tentatively-called Container Terminal Resource Management Center (CTRMC) should be established and operated in order to save operation and investment costs and improve operational efficiency. In addition, the continuous acquisition and life-cycle support (CALS) concept is imbedded in the model so that it can control the supply and demand of resources efficiently by sharing the database, through which the CTRMC can automatically identify the status of the excess or deficit of a certain resource in each berth at GCT.     

Turbulent mixing and internal tides in Gaoping (Kaoping) Submarine Canyon, Taiwan

Turbulent overturning on scales greater than 10 m is observed near the bottom and in mid-depth layers within the Gaoping (formerly spelled Kaoping) Submarine Canyon (KPSC) in southern Taiwan. Bursts of strong turbulence coexist with bursts of strong sediment concentrations in mid-depth layers. The turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate in some turbulence bursts exceeds 10^− 4 W kg^− 1, and the eddy diffusivity exceeds 10^− 1 m² s^− 1. Within the canyon, the depth averaged turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate is ~ 7 × 10^− 6 W kg^− 1, and the depth averaged eddy diffusivity is ~ 10^− 2 m² s^− 1. These are more than two orders of magnitude greater than typical values in the open ocean, and are much larger than those found in the Monterey Canyon where the strong turbulent mixing has also been. The interaction of tidal currents with the complex topography in Gaoping Submarine Canyon is presumably responsible for the observed turbulent overturning via shear instability and the breaking of internal tides and internal waves at critical frequencies. Strong 1st-mode internal tides exist in KPSC. The depth averaged internal tidal energy near the canyon mouth is ~ 0.17 m² s^− 2. The depth integrated internal tidal energy flux at the mouth of the canyon is ~ 14 kW m^− 1, propagating along the axis of the canyon toward the canyon head. The internal tidal energy flux in the canyon is 3–7 times greater than that found in Monterey Canyon, presumably due to the more than 10 times larger barotropic tide in the canyon. Simple energy budget calculations conclude that internal tides alone may provide energy sufficient to explain the turbulent mixing estimated within the canyon. Further experiments are needed in order to quantify the seasonal and geographical distributions of internal tides in Gaoping Submarine Canyon and their effects on the sediment flux in the canyon.     

Experimental and analytical investigations on the response of stiffened plates subjected to lateral collisions

Rational structural design of ships or offshore platforms against collisions requires prediction of the extent of damage to stiffened plates generated by lateral impact. In predicting the extent of collision damage, most researchers employ numerical analysis methods using commercial software packages. Like other structural problems, any nonlinear dynamic analysis methods should be substantiated with relevant test data prior to being employed for design. Unfortunately, full-scale collision tests on marine structures are very rare. Still, results from collision tests on marine structural elements can help to substantiate theoretical methods for collision analyses. Lateral collision test data for unstiffened plates are available, but it is difficult to find results from tests on stiffened plates in the open literature. In this paper, the results of lateral collision tests on 33 stiffened plates are reported. A simplified analytical method is developed for the prediction of the extent of damage to stiffened plates due to lateral collisions and this method is substantiated with the test results. Also proposed is a simple criterion with which the occurrence of crack damage can be judged.     

Computational predictions of ship-speed performance

This paper examines ship-speed performance based on acomputational method. The computations are carried out under identical model conditions, i.e., resistance and self-propulsion tests, to predict the speed-power relationship. The self-propulsion point is obtained from the self-propulsive computational results of two propeller rotative speeds. The speed-power relationship in full scale is obtained through analyzing the computational results in model scale according to the model-ship performance analysis method of ITTC’78. The object ship is a VLCC. The limiting streamlines and the distribution of the pressure coefficient on the hull, the wake characteristics on the propeller plane, and the wave characteristics around a model ship are also investigated. After completing the computations, a series of model tests are conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the predictions by comparing the computational results with the experimental results.