Drag reduction of a pickup truck by a rear downward flap

The drag reduction of a pickup truck by a rear flap add-on was examined through CFD simulations and wind tunnel experiments. When installed at the rear edge of the roof, the flap increased the cabin back surface pressure coefficient, causing the downwash of the bed flow to be inclined on the tailgate. Thus, the attachment of the bed flow to the tailgate was eliminated; consequently, the drag coefficient was reduced with increasing flap length and downward angle despite the enlarged reverse flow in the wake. However, the drag coefficient did not decrease any further after a specific downward angle was reached because the bed flow increased the drag force at the tailgate and the flap lowered the pressure field above the flap. To maximize the drag reduction effect, the rear downward flap should be designed to have an optimum downward angle.     

Design and use of an eddy current retarder in an automobile

In this study, the structure and working principles of an eddy current retarder acting as an auxiliary brake set is introduced in detail. Based on the principle of energy conservation, a mathematical model was developed to design a retarder whose nominal brake torque is 1, 900 N·m. According to the characteristics of the eddy current retarder, an exclusive test bed was developed and used for brake performance measurements. The main technical parameters, such as the brake characteristics, temperature characteristics and power consumption, were measured with the test bed. The test data show that the brake torque of the eddy current retarder obviously decreased in the continuous braking stage and that there is a certain amount of brake torque in the normal driving state because of the remnant magnetism of the rotor plate. The mathematical model could be used to design an eddy current retarder. The exclusive test bed could be used for optimization of an eddy current retarder as well as for R&D of a series of products.     

Nano-particle emission characteristics of European and Worldwide Harmonized test cycles for heavy-duty diesel engines

This study was conducted for the experimental comparison of particulate emission characteristics between the European and World-Harmonized test cycles for a heavy-duty diesel engine as part of the UN/ECE PMP ILCE of the Korea Particulate Measurement Program. To verify the particulate mass and particle number concentrations from various operating modes, ETC/ESC and WHTC/WHSC, were evaluated. Both will be enacted in Euro VI emission legislation. The real-time particle emissions from a Mercedes OM501 heavy-duty golden engine with a catalyst based uncoated golden DPF were measured with CPC and DMS during daily test protocol. Real-time particle formation of the transient cycles ETC and WHTC were strongly correlated with engine operating conditions and after-treatment device temperature. The higher particle number concentration during the ESC #7 to #10 mode was ascribed to passive DPF regeneration and the thermal release of low volatile particles at high exhaust temperature conditions. The detailed average particle number concentration equipped for golden DPF reached approximately 4.783E+11 #/kWh (weighted WHTC), 6.087E+10 #/kWh (WHSC), 4.596E+10 #/kWh (ETC), and 3.389E+12 #/kWh (ESC). Particle masses ranged from 0.0011 g/kWh (WHSC) to 0.0031 g/kWh (ESC). The particle number concentration and mass reduction of DPF reached about 99%, except for an ESC with a reduction of 95%.     

Optimization of drying performance considering driving conditions

Compressed air can be used as an energy source for brake systems in medium-heavy and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The moisture in compressed air, which is due to high temperature and humidity, can be eliminated by using an air dryer. In this paper, drying performance data for a cartridge were obtained and used to develop a drying performance program, to predict the moisture and relative humidity in the air tanks of vehicles. The on-load time, off-load time, air flow, duty cycle, humidity and dew point temperature were calculated according to air consumption. The validity of the program was verified, and it was shown to be able to predict humidity changes in the air tank. The air tank capacity was increased from 100 to 130 to reduce the duty cycle. Therefore, the regeneration rate decreased from 18% to 15%, but the dew point depression temperature (ΔT) remained above 30°C. The duty cycle decreased from 50% to 43%, and the total operation time and power consumption of the air compressor were reduced. In conclusion, fuel savings were obtained by changing the parameters to optimize the system.     

Derivation and validation of nonlinear governing equations for an analysis of vehicle handling

Nonlinear governing equations used to analyze the handling of a ground vehicle are derived from the Lagrange equations of motion. The derived equations are coded using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) embedded in Microsoft’s Excel Software and simulated in the time domain using the 4th-order Runge-Kutta method. A total of six degrees of freedom are used in the equations; three of these are the directional translation, lateral translation, and yaw of a platform (unsprung) on the base of an inertial ground coordinate, and the other three are the roll, pitch, and yaw of a body (sprung) by a platform-fixed coordinate. Four driving torques and four wheel angles of all tires are used as input control parameters. A simplified Calspan tire model is adopted for the generalized forces of the equations. This is a combined model that can be used to obtain tractional (or braking) and side forces using the inputs of the directional and side-slip ratios and the vertical force. The VBA code realized in this study is validated by comparisons with trimmed equilibrium results and the test data cited in published papers. The major characteristics of this study are: (1) the coordinate systems of the equations are mixed with the inertial frame and the platform-fixed frame, and, as a result, almost all types of driving conditions with long mileages can be simulated; (2) vertical movement is eliminated due the focus on the handling analysis; (3) the body-yaw degree of freedom is separated from the platform-yaw degree of freedom; and (4) the programming is performed by VBA, which is rarely used in the vehicle dynamics field.     

天津港深水化及二港岛建设水沙环境研究

根据天津市城市总体规划和产业布局,结合天津港30万吨级航道及东疆第二港岛的建设,基于多年实测水文泥沙等资料,采用现场观测、演变分析、物理模型和数学模型等多种手段,对港口深水化及港岛工程实施后的水流泥沙运动特征及产生的环境效应问题进行了综合性试验研究,其成果为工程的建设提供了科学依据。     

Precise and reliable positioning based on the integration of navigation satellite system and vision system

In this paper, we propose a precise and reliable positioning method for solving common problems, such as a navigation satellite’s signal occlusion in an urban canyon and the positioning error due to a limited number of visible navigation satellites. This is an integrated system of the navigation satellites system and a vision system. In general, the navigation satellite positioning system has a fatal weakness in that it can not calculate a position coordinate when its signal is occluded by some obstacle. For this reason, positioning by using the navigation satellites system can not be used for a variety of applications. Therefore, we propose as a method to integrate both the navigation satellites system and the vision system. Some target objects that have accurate position coordinates, for example, in an outdoor shaded area like an urban canyon, are installed into the vision system. When the vision system recognizes a target object it loads the accurate coordinate of that target object. Then, it measures the distance by using the disparity from the camera sensor to the target object. These distance and object coordinate data are used for positioning with the navigation satellites system’s data. This integrated system can be used for the positioning solution where the user is in unfavorable conditions. This paper shows that the algorithm of integrated system and the numerical test performed. The results indicate that the reliable and stable positioning can be obtained by introducing the vision system to the satellite navigation system.     

Development of a model of the dual clutch transmission in autonomie and validation with dynamometer test data

Owing to ever more stringent regulations and customers’ expectations, auto manufacturers have been considering numerous technology options to improve vehicle fuel economy. One of these is transmission technology, which has been shown to be one of the most cost-effective technologies. Over the past few years, transmissions have significantly evolved and have impacted both performance and fuel efficiency. As one of the advanced tranmissions, the dual clutch transmission (DCT) is the first automatic transmission to provide better efficiency than manual transmissions. DCTs provide reduced shift shocks and better driver comfort in addition to higher top speeds and torques. In this paper, a model and shifting controller for the DCT are developed in the vehicle systems context using Autonomie, a model-based vehicle simulation tool. Finally, the Autonomie DCT model and control strategy are validated using vehicle test data from Argonne’s Advanced Powertrain Research Facility.     

Micro deformation of automobile hood in dipping process using stiffness

Technicians have been going through trial-and-error processes to solve very small or micro deformation on automobile hood during the painting process. In order to establish a systematic improvement procedure which can replace the time-consuming trial-and-error method to reduce defects, an accurate analysis of how micro deformation occurs during the painting process is needed. We have utilized a stiffness scanning method in automobile hood and reverse engineering to build up a reliable and accurate structural analysis and measurement procedures. We measured the load-stroke data at critical locations on automobile hood through stiffness scanning to determine material constants closest to the measurement by assuming several critical hood parts, such as sealer inside the hood, hemming part, spot weld part, and other uncertain joints, as virtual elastic materials. After setting the difference between analytical and measured load-stroke data as an objective function, we computed and minimized it by using the response surface method and partial differentiation of the object function. As a result, by obtaining the reliability was over 91%, which showed a strong correlation between analysis and measured results. By comparing the actual strain measured in real painting lines with calculated strain, we confirmed the validity of our structural analysis method. It was concluded that the proper analysis tool could be utilized in determination of optimal locations of supports during the painting process.     

Viable combined cycle design for automotive applications

A relatively new approach for improving fuel economy and automotive engine performance involves the use of automotive combined cycle generation technologies. The combined cycle generation, a process widely used in existing power plants, has become a viable option for automotive applications due to advances in materials science, nanotechnology, and MEMS (Mico-Electro Mechanical Systems) devices. The waste heat generated from automotive engine exhaust and coolant is a feasible heat source for a combined cycle generation system, which is basically a Rankine cycle in the context of this study. However, there are still numerous technical issues that need to be solved before the technology can be implemented in automobiles. A simulation was performed to examine the amount of waste energy that could be recovered through the use of a combined cycle system. A simulation model of the Rankine cycle was developed using Cycle-Tempo software. The simulation model was ultimately used to evaluate the rate of waste heat recovery and the consequential increase in the overall thermal efficiency of the engine with the combined cycle generation system under typical engine operating conditions. The most effective automotive combined cycle system recovered 68% of the waste heat from the exhaust and coolant, resulting in a 6% improvement in engine efficiency. The results are expected to be beneficial for evaluating the feasibility of combined cycle generation systems in automotive applications.