Relationship between occupant injury and the perturbation mark on the velocity indicator on a cluster panel

A perturbation mark is occasionally produced on the velocity indicator of the cluster panel of a vehicle during a vehicle collision. This mark can be used to estimate the velocity of the vehicle at the moment of the vehicle’s impact. In this study, the effect of the impact velocity and the deceleration of the vehicle on the perturbation mark were investigated, and an analysis of the driver’s injury was also conducted through a numerical pulse representation and computer simulations. Sled and pendulum tests were used to replicate the conditions that produce a perturbation mark on the velocity indicator of a cluster panel. It was verified that a higher peak acceleration is more likely than the impact velocity to cause a perturbation mark. According to the computer simulation results, a driver’s injury could be more severe at higher peak accelerations with a constant impact velocity. If a perturbation mark, which can be used to estimate the impact velocity, is found while investigating a vehicle accident, this mark reveals that the acceleration was higher than that listed in the related crash report. Therefore, the injuries of the occupants could be more serious than those expected at the reported impact velocity.     

Network performance analysis and manuever model for overtaking assistant service using wave

We present network requirements for an overtaking assistant service using wireless access in vehicular environment (WAVE). Currently, DNPW has been proposed as a representative overtaking assistant service with vehicle-tovehicle (V2V) communication. In order to analyze its network performance, we construct a maneuver model for an overtaking system. According to this model, we configured a scenario for network simulation based on the 802.11p WAVE standard. The results confirm that a radio range for overtaking needs only a single hop without routing methods. Moreover, we propose an additional safe distance for the communication delay generated by an increase in the numbers of neighboring vehicles. And for high priority activity of safety services, we present a proper access category (AC) of enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA). These analysis results should be tested considered in real safety service systems that use V2V communication.     

Optimization of Gear Ratio of In-Wheel Motor Vehicle Considering Probabilistic Driver Model

A reduction gear of an in-wheel motor vehicle is mounted between a traction motor and wheel, to increase the wheel torque and decrease the rotational speed. To improve the energy efficiency of a vehicle, the determination of the optimal gear ratio is an important factor in the design of the reduction gear. This paper presents an optimization procedure to obtain the optimal gear ratio of an in-wheel motor vehicle that minimizes the electric energy consumption. Using a model-based design, a dynamic simulation model of a vehicle was developed for an analysis of the energy efficiency. Owing to a variation in energy efficiency across drivers, a probabilistic driver model that includes driver characteristics is employed. To reduce excessive calculations, a surrogate model was constructed for the optimization. The optimal gear ratio for saving energy was obtained, and the usefulness of the proposed optimization procedure was shown through a comparison of the results of the optimal gear ratio and the energy efficiency achieved between deterministic and probabilistic approaches.     

Activity space estimation with longitudinal observations of social media data

In this paper, we demonstrate the use of an inexpensive and easy-to-collect long-term dataset to address the problems caused by basing activity space studies off short-term data. In total, we use 63,114 geo-tagged tweets from 116 unique users to create individuals’ activity spaces based on minimum bounding geometry (convex hull). By using polygon density maps of activity space, we found clear differences between weekday and weekend activity spaces, and were able to observe the growth trajectory of activity space over 17 weeks. In order to reflect the heterogeneous nature of spatial behavior and tweeting habits, we used Latent Class Analysis twice. First, to identify five unique patterns of location-based activity spaces that are different in shape and anchoring. Second, we identify three unique growth trajectories. The comparison among these latent growth trajectories shows that in order to capture the extent of activity spaces we need long time periods for some individuals and shorter periods of observation for others. We also show that past studies using a single digit number of weeks may not be sufficient to capture individuals’ activity space. The major activity locations identified using a multilevel latent class model, do not appear to be statistically related to the growth patterns of Twitter users activity spaces. The evidence here shows Twitter data can be a valuable complementary source of information for heterogeneity analysis in activity-based modeling and simulation.     

CV-joint remanufacturing parameter optimization

Quality assessment process is based on a standard procedure. These standards are developed as a combined effort. It requires deep knowledge about structural material in addition to component`s behavior under external loads. Remanufactured components pose another difficulty to assess their quality in the form of unknown usage rate. This paper represents optimization of quality assessment criteria for remanufactured CV-joints. Working surface hardness of the CV-joint elements is measured at certain depth interval. A minimum acceptable surface hardness value for the BJ-outer joint elements is suggested based on existing research. Remanufactured CV-joint Housing, Inner race and Cage surface machining steps are studied and machining parameter optimization is performed through laboratory based durability test results. The test results of optimized machining parameters are compared with the test results of unmachined test samples. Mean-time-to-failure is calculated along with Weibull distribution parameters. Also, Birfield joint inner race bending and rotating torque are measured and standard parameters for remanufactured CV-joint are determined. Those quality assessment criteria for remanufactured CV-joints are developed.     

Characteristics on NOx adsorption and intermediates of LNT catalyst

Several NOx reduction technologies under development in recent years have now been commercialized, including selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with NH₃ or hydrocarbons, and Lean NOx Trap. The aim of the present study is to investigate characteristics on NOx adsorption according to the oxygen concentration, de-NOx performance according to lean/rich injection cycle and toxic intermediates at LNT downstram for lean-burn gasoline engine. Under oxygen of 6%, NOx storage capacity was the highest, showed the highest NOx conversion of 98%. The reason for this phenomena is because the excited oxygen atoms at high oxygen concentration increased oxidizing power of NO. Under low temperature of 205°C, LNT catalyst showed the least NOx conversion of 14% because its activity became lower, while the generation rate of toxic HNCO was highest as CO which is generated during the rich condition, reacts with NOx stored on Ba site.