Optimized design for a MacPherson strut suspension with side load springs

Undesired lateral force inevitably exists in a MacPherson suspension system, which is liable to damper rod’s side wear and promotes the damper’s inner friction decreasing the ride performance from the suspension system. Substituting a new side load spring with curved centerline for the conventional coil spring has been proven able to solve these problems and Multi-body Dynamics combining with Finite Elements Analysis may be an efficient method in optimizing its design. Therefore, taking a passenger car as example, a detailed multi-body dynamics model for the suspension system is built to simulate forces exerted on the damper and the minimization of its lateral component is selected as the design target for the spring. When the structure optimization of the side load spring is performed using FEA software ANSYS, its vertical and lateral elastic characteristics, supported by test data, are analyzed. After importing FEA results back to the suspension system, the dynamics simulation can be performed to validate the optimization result.     

Analysis process of a steering system using a concept model for idle vibration

This paper describes the development of an optimal design process for a steering column system and supporting system. A design guide is proposed at the initial concept stage of the development process to obtain sufficient stiffness of the steering system while reducing the idle vibration sensitivity of the system. Case studies on resonance isolation are summarized, where vibration modes among the systems are separated by applying a vibration mode map at the initial stage of the design process. This study also provides design guidelines for an optimal dynamic damper system using a CAE (computer aided engineering) analysis. The damper FE (finite element) model is added to the vehicle model to analyze the relation between the frequency and the sensitivity of the steering column system. This analysis methodology makes it possible to achieve target performance in the early design stage and reduction of damper tuning activity after the proto car test stage. Through the proposed steering column system development process, a lightweight vehicle with high stiffness is possible prior to the proto build stage. Furthermore, the improved process is expected to contribute to reducing the overall development period and the number of proto car tests necessary to achieve the desired steering system performance.     

Lane-following method for high speed autonomous vehicles

This paper presents a steering control method for lane-following in a vehicle using an image sensor. With each image frame acquired from the sensor, the steering control method determines target position and direction, and constructs a travel path from the current position to the target position either as an Arc-path or S-path. The steering angle is calculated from the travel path thus generated, and the vehicle follows the travel path via motor-control. The method was tested using a vehicle dubbed as KAV (Korea Autonomous Vehicle) along an expressway (Seoul Inner Beltway) trajectory with a variety of radii (50 m ∼ 300 m) while traveling at a speed of 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Compared with an experienced human driver, the method showed little much difference in performance in terms of lane-center deviation. The proposed method is currently employed for high speed autonomous driving as well as for stop and go traffic.     

从广州地铁信号系统运营情况分析CBTC在地铁运营中的应用

从广州地铁各条线路信号系统运营情况出发,针对基于无线通信的列车控制系统（CBTC）,介绍了该系统的基本原理,分析了CBTC的技术难点,并说明了CBTC对无线局域网的要求。最后从运营的角度考虑,提出了一些在CBTC中提高运营质量的方法和建议。     

地铁明挖车站-市政桥梁合建结构的关键技术研究

地铁明挖车站和市政桥梁合建时,为同时满足2种不同类型构筑物的安全和使用功能要求,需对其中的关键技术难题进行分析研究,以采取合理可行的结构形式。依托成都地铁白佛桥明挖车站与其上部市政桥梁的建设,总结国内类似工程经验,根据工程特点确定桥梁承台与地铁车站顶板进行固结连接,桥梁跨度与地铁车站框架柱跨进行匹配,同时桥墩避开地铁车站端头井、换乘节点等复杂结构受力区域进行布设; 建立三维荷载-结构模型,计算分析上部桥梁荷载对地铁车站结构构件内力及变形的影响,并根据计算结果,对桥墩影响范围内的车站顶底板和侧墙的厚度及配筋进行增强,桥墩轴线下方的地铁车站框架柱采用型钢-混凝土组合结构,以满足合建结构的承载能力、变形、裂缝控制等要求。另外,选取LS-DYNA软件,采用非线性时程分析法对合建结构进行抗震计算分析,计算结果显示： 车站板、墙、梁等构件在支座处出现应力集中现象,各结构构件的承载力强度及变形均满足规范要求。     

软土刀具的磨损预测——一种研究刀具磨损系统中主要影响因素的新方法

硬岩隧道掘进机的性能很大程度上取决于其切削刀具的磨损情况。刀具的磨损会降低掘进速度,进而导致掘进时间延长、项目成本增加。通常在隧道项目的规划阶段使用预测模型来进行磨损预测,而常规的磨损试验对磨损系统的考虑还不够准确,并没有考虑到刀具/土体的相互作用、周围介质（水、膨润土）以及掘进过程中的荷载等因素。针对该问题,专门设计了一个水平放置的磨损试验设备。本文介绍了该试验方法,研究并讨论了磨损系统相关因素对磨损率的影响。结果表明,该设备可模拟真实的掘进过程,很好地解决了上述问题,达到了高效、准确预测磨损的效果。     

基于岩溶分布分析的突水风险评估模型研究

为实现岩溶突水风险评估的全过程动态修正与管理,一以岩溶发育分布规律为基础,采用半定量分析方法,估计溶洞与隧道在剖面图中的相对位置距离值,二将防突水岩层安全厚度的预测划分为初步估算、二次估计和动态测算3个阶段,每个阶段均采用有效的修正方式,不断获取更加准确且适用的防突岩层安全厚度预测数值。然后,综合考虑防突岩层安全厚度以及爆破开挖扰动深度影响,提出岩溶突水风险概率等级评价标准;通过划分突水量和溶腔高水头压强的等级,提出岩溶突水风险后果等级评价标准;并以二者为基础构建岩溶突水风险等级评估矩阵。最终,构建基于岩溶分布态势与防突岩层厚度的岩溶突水风险评估模型。通过具体工程实例检验,理论结果与实际情况相对比,验证所构建岩溶突水风险评估模型的合理性与可行性。     

Hybrid neural network model for history-dependent automotive shock absorbers

The method of numerical multi-body simulation is an often used and well-understood development tool in the automotive industry. In order to reproduce the ride comfort or handling behaviour of vehicles, mathematical models have to be built up. To achieve accurate simulation results, highly detailed component models are required. However, the formulation of appropriate physically-based model equations of complex automotive components (e.g. air springs, shock absorbers, rubber bearings, tyres, etc.) can be very difficult. To handle this, empirical modelling methods have been developed. Simple algebraic equations are used to describe complex system behaviour. This simplification is very effective, although it largely ignores the natural laws of mechanics and thermodynamics but is still capable to predict the component response. This article illustrates how to take advantage of this approach in numerical simulations. We describe the development of a hybrid automotive shock absorber model based on both spline and neural network (NN) approaches. By combining these different approaches, an accurate model is achieved without loss of variability. Non-isothermal laboratory force-displacement measurements of an automotive shock absorber are being used to estimate the parameters of the NN. As shown, the model replicates the measured data with sufficient accuracy, especially the hysteresis. Finally, we present a set of quarter-car simulations with a built-in hybrid NN shock absorber.     

The influence of the Agulhas Current on the adjacent coastal ocean: possible impacts of climate change

The dynamics of the coastal ocean along the southeastern coast of Africa is dominated by a strong and intense western boundary current, the Agulhas Current. With a near-uniform, narrow continental shelf and a steep shelf slope that stabilizes this current, the trajectory of the Agulhas exhibits great stability. The only substantial perturbation occurs with the irregular passage of a Natal Pulse, a soliton meander. The initiation of this meander at the Natal Bight is due to a barotropic instability when the intensity of the landward border of the current exceeds a certain threshold value. This may come about with natural fluctuations in the current or with the adsorption of deep-sea eddies onto the current. Under a climate change scenario of altered wind stress curl over the South Indian Ocean it is conceivable that the threshold for the triggering of a Natal Pulse will occur more frequently. This will lead to a situation where the current axis on average lies further offshore. The possible consequences of such a situation on the rainfall of the coast, on the ecology of estuaries and the coastal ocean, and on the socio-economics of the region is discussed.     

Interaction study of train-bridge-track systems using Maxwell model

The investigation of problems related to the interaction of train, bridge and track systems has been accelerated by the emergence of high-speed trains. Such studies are required, not only for the endurance issues regarding bridge and tracks, but to assure trains' functionality and performance. The suspension mechanism of train systems is of prime importance in defining the functionality of high-speed trains, and accurate mathematical models of the mechanism are imperative. This paper introduces a numerical technique for an interaction study of train-bridge-track systems based on Maxwell (three-element type) modeling of the suspension mechanisms of vehicles. Track irregularity in sinusoidal form is also integrated into the mathematical model. Although the proposed technique is simple in formulation, it offers phenomenal accuracy in representing the interaction of train, track and bridge systems. In a numerical example, the dynamic behavior of a train-bridge system has been studied. Results of this analysis provide a valuable insight into the contributing roles of different parameters in this subject.