Dual extended Kalman filter for vehicle state and parameter estimation

The article demonstrates the implementation of a model-based vehicle estimator, which can be used for combined estimation of vehicle states and parameters. The estimator is realised using the dual extended Kalman filter (DEKF) technique, which makes use of two Kalman filters running in parallel, thus 'splitting' the state and parameter estimation problems. Note that the two problems cannot be entirely separated due to their inherent interdependencies. This technique provides several advantages, such as the possibility to switch off the parameter estimator, once a sufficiently good set of estimates has been obtained. The estimator is based on a four-wheel vehicle model with four degrees of freedom, which accommodates the dominant modes only, and is designed to make use of several interchangeable tyre models. The paper demonstrates the appropriateness of the DEKF. Results to date indicate that this is an effective approach, which is considered to be of potential benefit to the automotive industry.     

Neuro-Fuzzy Control of a Tracked Vehicle Featuring Semi-Active Electro-Rheological Suspension Units

This paper presents vibration control of a tracked vehicle installed with electro-rheological suspension units (ERSU). As a first step, an in-arm type ERSU is designed, and its spring and damping characteristics are evaluated with respect to the intensity of electric fields. Subsequently, a 16 degree-of-freedom model for a tracked vehicle equipped with the proposed ERSU is established followed by the formulation of a neuro-fuzzy controller. This controller takes account for both ride quality and steering stability by adopting a weighting parameter between two performance requirements. The parameter is appropriately determined by employing a fuzzy algorithm associated with two fuzzy variables: the vertical speed of the body and the rotational angular speed of the wheel. Control performances to isolate unwanted vibration from bump and random road excitations are evaluated through computer simulations. In addition, maximum speed of the vehicle with 6 Watt power absorption is investigated with respect to the road roughness.     

应用有限元法研究车架结构的耐撞性

本文应用有限地对车辆正面碰撞过程中车架结构的大变形过程进行了计算机模拟。文中介绍了非线性有限元分析的基本方程，运用微机版ＤＹＮＡ３Ｄ软件，在合理简化的基础上，建立了车呆结构的有限元模型，通过计算机模拟，预测了车辆正碰过程中车架的变形位置和变形形式。针对存在的问题，对车架结构进行了改进设计。实车碰撞试验表明：改进后，车架结构的耐撞性有明显提高。     

Semi-active Damping with an Electromagnetic Force Generator

The main shortcoming of vehicle suspension systems is the amplification of input vibrations at the resonant frequency. A non-amplifying suspension system with a semi-active damping is being developed. The use of an electronically controlled rotational damper has been studied theoretically. A new sprung seat is being designed for the improvement of the working conditions for drivers of road and terrain vehicles.     

Vehicle Motion Analysis in Relation to Vehicle Safety

The influence of vehicle handling on the possible avoidance of accident situations is discussed. lit is shown that accident reconstruction at present does not provide the necessary information to relate the cause of accidents to the lack of road worthiness of vehicles. It follows that the vehicle behavior in proximity of its performance limit must be determined in order to infer its accident avoidance potential.

The paper presents a review of the state-of-the-art of vehicle modeling, simulation of vehicle maneuvers and full scale testing. The application of the direct method of the stability theory is suggested as a possible means of obtaining performance limit envelopes which are necessary for establishing standards of the performance of vehicles.     

Fatigue damage calculation for oil tanker and container ship structures

The fatigue behaviour of longitudinal stiffeners of oil tankers and container ships, subjected to dynamic loads, is analysed. The following dynamic load components are considered: hull girder vertical wave bending moment, alone and combined with the horizontal wave bending moment, hydrodynamic pressure and inertial forces caused by cargo acceleration.

The spectral method was selected to calculate the fatigue damage, based on S—N curves and Miner's rule. Following this approach, the fatigue damage may be calculated as a function of a stress parameter Ω_p, which represents the cumulative effect of wave induced loads in the unit of time and incorporates the combined effects of stress level and its occurring frequency.

Simple formulas for Ω_p of oil tankers and container ships are given, obtained from the results of hydrodynamic analyses performed on several ships, in different wave environments.

Several examples show the applicability of the methods to real ship structures. The method, however, still needs to be calibrated because of the simplifying hypotheses introduced in the loading conditions.     

REGULATION OF PRODUCTION OF PARATHYROID HORMONE－RELATED PEPTIDE （PTHrP） AND EXPRESSION OF ITS mRNA IN A HUMANLIVER－DERIVED CE

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Improvements in Dynamic Characteristics of Automobile Suspension Systems Part 1. Two-Mass Systems

In a previous paper, [3] the random vibrations of simple linear models of automobile suspension were solved with respect to seat elasticity and human sensitivity to vibrations. The present study uses more realistic linear models taking into account the unsprung mass.

Two configurations of masses are investigated: a two-mass system consisting of a sprung mass and an unsprung mass, and a three-mass system having an additional mass which acts as a vibration absorber. The gain in comfort obtained by lowering the natural frequency of the sprung mass is calculated for various two-mass and three-mass models along with other characteristics such as the dynamic tyre load, spring and damper forces and relative motion of the masses.