Digital human body model for seat comfort simulation

Using the recent anthropometry of the North American population, human body models were developed for seat comfort simulation. The external geometry of the models was acquired from the three-dimensional whole body laser scan of recruited volunteers in a driving position. The selection criteria for volunteers with standard size and shape were derived from a statistical factor analysis of the Size USA database. As a practical application of the model in a design process, comfortable driving postures were constructed by adopting the cascade prediction model (CPM), which takes into account both interior package layout and the driver’s anthropometry. The detail modeling process of finite element modeling and its validation results against volunteer measurements are introduced.     

Effects of stack array orientation on fuel cell efficiency for auxiliary power unit applications

The commercial fuel cell products currently appearing on the market are self-contained fuel cell engines. These engines can be used for many applications that are presently dominated by internal combustion engines or batteries. Vehicle mounted fuel cell auxiliary power units have been attracting attention lately. Additionally, there is a market based incentive to use multiple small fuel cell arrays in place of a single large fuel cell for some applications. Typically, fuel cells are designed to operate as stand-alone units. This paper investigates the ability of small commercial stacks to operate in common array arrangements. Although an individual Nexa is able to produce 1500 W, Dual Nexas do not maintain that capability while in array configurations. With an overall load share ratio of 1.02:1 the series array reliably produced 2900 W of power, while with an overall load share ratio of 1.09:1 the parallel array reliably produced only 2800 W of power. This study shows that array orientation affects both system stack net efficiency and individual stack net efficiency. The information gained from this study may be helpful for fuel cell design and integration.     

Hydroplaning simulations for tires using FEM,FVM and an asymptotic method

Hydroplaning tires have been frequently simulated using commercial explicit FEM (Finite Element Method) codes. However, these simulations are slow, and the result of the lift force is so oscillatory that the hydroplaning speed cannot be accurately determined. Thus, in the author’s previous study, a new methodology using FDM (Finite Difference Method) code and an FE tire model iteratively was proposed. However, this full iteration method still required a long computation time, especially for patterned tires. Thus, in this study, the full iteration methodology was modified such that no iteration or only one additional iteration was needed at each speed. Then, by applying the full iteration method, no iteration method and one iteration method, the hydroplaning speeds of a straight-grooved tire were determined, and it was noted that the hydroplaning speed obtained from the one iteration method was almost the same as that obtained from the full iteration method. Moreover, the hydroplaning speeds of two patterned tires were determined using the one iteration method, and they were compared with the hydroplaning speeds obtained experimentally.     

Reliability and safety analysis methodology for identification of drivers’ erroneous actions

Owing to significantly individual differences in everyday driving behavior, it is quite difficult to assess the relative importance of driver errors compared with vehicle faults or road environment anomalies. This paper briefly presents several basic concepts for analysis of driving dependability including driving errors, driving reliability, driver recovery from erroneous actions, and key factors that shape driving behavior. This presentation is followed by construction of a shaping architecture for driving behavior that consists of a perception stage, a decision-making stage, an execution stage and correlativity among stages, in addition to internal feedback from complex traffic states. The causation classification of driving errors is then discussed in the context of three elemental types: perception error, decision-making error and execution error. The emphasis of this paper is on how to quantify driving dependability in order to identify various erroneous driver actions during traffic accidents. Specifically, this paper proposes a methodology to measure the probability of driving errors by considering the driver recovery from erroneous actions. The purpose of model-based driving dependability analysis is to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the relationship between driving errors and traffic accidents causations.     

Estimation of the adhesion force for a disc brake in a skid control condition

The performance of brakes has become important due to increased train speeds. The brake system of a train must possess a large brake force to stop the train safely within a limited stopping distance. However, an excessive brake force deteriorates the ride comfort and causes the train to skid. Therefore, it is necessary to control the brake force within the adhesion force limit. This paper presents an analytical method to estimate the relationship between the brake and adhesion forces of a disc brake system. This method has been applied to the actual disc braking control system of the Korea High-Speed Train (HSR350x), and the adhesion force is estimated in an actual skid condition.     

Improved theoretical modeling of a cyclone separator as a diesel soot particulate emission arrester

Particulate matter is considered to be the most harmful pollutant emitted into air from diesel engine exhaust, and its reduction is one of the most challenging problems in modern society. Several after-treatment retrofit programs have been proposed to control such emission, but to date, they suffer from high engineering complexity, high cost, thermal cracking, and increased back pressure, which in turn deteriorates diesel engine combustion performance. This paper proposes a solution for controlling diesel soot particulate emissions by an improved theoretical model for calculating the overall collection efficiency of a cyclone. The model considers the combined effect of collection efficiencies of both outer and inner vortices by introducing a particle distribution function to account for the non-uniform distribution of soot particles across the turbulent vortex section and by including the Cunningham correction factor for molecular slip of the particles. The cut size diameter model has also been modified and proposed by introducing the Cunningham correction factor for molecular slip of the separated soot particles under investigation. The results show good agreements with the existing theoretical and experimental studies of cyclones and diesel particulate filter flow characteristics of other applications.     

Modified one-step reaction equation for modeling the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons in engine conditions

The oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons from piston crevices was modeled using a modified one-step reaction equation. This new one-step oxidation model was developed by modifying the Arrhenius reaction rate coefficients of the conventional one-step reaction equation. The predictions of the new one-step oxidation model agree well with the results of the detailed chemical reaction mechanism in terms of the 90% oxidation time of the fuel. The effects of pressure and intermediate species in the burnt gas on the oxidation rate were also investigated and included as additional multiplying factors in the modification of the equation. To simulate the oxidation process of unburned hydrocarbons from a piston crevice, a two-dimensional computational mesh, based on the conventional engine geometry, was constructed with a fine mesh density at the regions of the piston crevice and cylinder wall. The number of cell layers in the cylinder was controlled according to the piston motion to model the out-flow of unburned hydrocarbons from the piston crevice during the expansion stroke. The effects of engine operational conditions on the oxidation rate were examined at several engine speeds and load conditions, and the sensitivity of the oxidation rate to the piston crevice volume was also evaluated. Finally, the new one-step oxidation model was applied to a three-dimensional computational mesh that modeled the three-dimensional engine geometry and piston-valve motions to simulate the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons in a real engine condition.     

预应力CFRP板加固钢板轴心受拉行为分析

首先分析比较预应力的施加方法和锚固方式,然后基于一维线弹性理论,对预应力碳纤维增强复合材料(CFRP)板加固钢板体系的受力过程进行分阶段分析,得到在张拉预应力和受载工况下CFRP板、钢板、胶层的应力分布解析式及CFRP有效粘结长度公式、弹性压缩带来的预应力损失值;最后利用ANSYS中Solid95三维单元进行有限元模拟对比分析。结果表明:直接张拉CFRP板能有效控制预应力及其加固效果,比间接法施加预应力有更多优势;采用高强螺栓连接的平板夹具锚传递大部分荷载,改善了非预应力粘贴加固界面的薄弱特点;该理论分析及有限元模型是可靠、有效的。     

Dependence of fatigue limit of high-tension bolts on mean stress and ultimate tensile strength

High tension bolts in critical joints in internal combustion engines are susceptible to fatigue failure. Computeraided bolted joint design procedures require knowledge of the dependence of bolt fatigue limit on the mean stress and ultimate tensile strength. This dependence is investigated with staircase fatigue limit tests. The test results show that when the bolt fatigue limit is estimated with the nominal stress of the bolt, it decreases with increasing tensile strength and nominal mean stress. However, there is a range of the nominal mean stress where the bolt fatigue limit is almost constant. The test results are interpreted with finite element analysis.     

Automated driving and autonomous functions on road vehicles

In recent years, road vehicle automation has become an important and popular topic for research and development in both academic and industrial spheres. New developments have received extensive coverage in the popular press, and it may be said that the topic has captured the public imagination. Indeed, the topic has generated interest across a wide range of academic, industry and governmental communities, well beyond vehicle engineering; these include computer science, transportation, urban planning, legal, social science and psychology. While this follows a similar surge of interest – and subsequent hiatus – of Automated Highway Systems in the 1990s, the current level of interest is substantially greater, and current expectations are high. It is common to frame the new technologies under the banner of ‘self-driving cars’ – robotic systems potentially taking over the entire role of the human driver, a capability that does not fully exist at present. However, this single vision leads one to ignore the existing range of automated systems that are both feasible and useful. Recent developments are underpinned by substantial and long-term trends in ‘computerisation’ of the automobile, with developments in sensors, actuators and control technologies to spur the new developments in both industry and academia. In this paper, we review the evolution of the intelligent vehicle and the supporting technologies with a focus on the progress and key challenges for vehicle system dynamics. A number of relevant themes around driving automation are explored in this article, with special focus on those most relevant to the underlying vehicle system dynamics. One conclusion is that increased precision is needed in sensing and controlling vehicle motions, a trend that can mimic that of the aerospace industry, and similarly benefit from increased use of redundant by-wire actuators.