SPOPS statement of methods

The Simulation Programme for Overhead contact lines – Pantograph System (SPOPS) is based on a two-dimensional finite element model of an overhead contact line and a lumped mass model for a pantograph. The SPOPS allows for a lateral change of contact points between the pantograph and the contact wire and for the rolling motions of contact strips in the pantograph model. Thus, the programme can consider the stagger of a contact wire in a dynamic simulation. Either a penalty method or a Lagrange multiplier method can be chosen to model the contact phenomenon between a pantograph and a contact wire. According to pantograph–catenary benchmark results, the simulation results obtained from the SPOPS are very close to the average values of the simulation results obtained from programmes implemented in the benchmark work in all cases, including a three-dimensional (3-D) case. These benchmark results demonstrate that the SPOPS is as accurate as other fully 3-D simulation programmes while utilising minimal computational efforts.     

The results of the pantograph–catenary interaction benchmark

This paper describes the results of a voluntary benchmark initiative concerning the simulation of pantograph–catenary interaction, which was proposed and coordinated by Politecnico di Milano and participated by 10 research institutions established in 9 different countries across Europe and Asia. The aims of the benchmark are to assess the dispersion of results on the same simulation study cases, to demonstrate the accuracy of numerical methodologies and simulation models and to identify the best suited modelling approaches to study pantograph–catenary interaction. One static and three dynamic simulation cases were defined for a non-existing but realistic high-speed pantograph–catenary couple. These cases were run using 10 of the major simulation codes presently in use for the study of pantograph–catenary interaction, and the results are presented and critically discussed here. All input data required to run the study cases are also provided, allowing the use of this benchmark as a term of comparison for other simulation codes.     

Active response control of an offshore structure under wave loads using a modified probabilistic neural network

Offshore structures are subjected to wave, wind, and earthquake loads. The failure of offshore structures can cause sea pollution as well as loss of property and life. Therefore, the safety of such structures is an important issue. The reduction of the dynamic response of an offshore structure subjected to wind-generated random ocean waves is another critical problem with regard to the serviceability, fatigue life, and safety of the structure. In this article, the responses of offshore structures under random ocean waves are controlled using a modified probabilistic neural network (MPNN). As a more advanced method, it uses the global probability density function (PDF) produced by summing the heterogeneous local PDFs automatically determined from the individual standard deviation of each variable. The state vectors in a state-space model of a structure and the resulting control forces made by a linear quadratic regulator algorithm were used to generate the training patterns for the MPNN and a conventional multilayer perceptron (MLP). The results were compared with those produced by back-propagation based on the MLP. The proposed MPNN method shows good results not only in controlling the responses but also in terms of the computation time.     

Fracture loci of DP980 steel sheet for auto-body at intermediate strain rates

This paper introduces the effect of the strain rate on the ductile fracture of DP980 1.2t steel sheet. Tensile tests of DP980 sheet are performed at a range of strain rates from 0.001 s^?1 to 100 s^?1 with three different shapes of specimens: the diagonally notched specimen for the in-plane shear test; the dog bone specimen for the uniaxial tension test; and grooved specimen for the plane strain tension test. To trace the strain on the surface of the specimen, 2-D digital image correlation (DIC) technique is adopted to encompass the remarkable transition of the fracture characteristics including the fracture strain, loading path and strain rate sensitivity. The negative stain rate sensitivity is observed on the equivalent strain to fracture which corresponds to the experimental results at low strain rate ranging from 0.001 s^?1 to 0.1 s^?1. The transition of thermal condition from isothermal to adiabatic comes into play to increase the equivalent strain to fracture at the intermediate strain rate from 0.01 s^?1 to 1 s^?1. The fracture loci incorporating with the Lou-Huh ductile fracture criterion are developed to identify the strain rate effect in the wide regime of triaxiality.     

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.     

Experimental study on the characteristics of nano-particle emissions from a heavy-duty diesel engine using a urea-SCR system

Particulate matter in diesel engine exhaust, particularly nano-particles, can cause serious human health problems including diseases such as lung cancer. Because diesel nano-particle issues are of global concern, regulations on particulate matter emissions specify that not only the weight of particulate matter emitted but also the concentration of nanoparticles must be controlled. This study aimed to determine the effects on nano-particle and PM emissions from a diesel engine when applying a urea-SCR system for NO_x reduction. We found that PM weight increases by approximately 90% when urea is injected in ND-13 mode over the emission without urea injection. Additionally, PM weight increases as the NH₃/NO_x mole ratio is increased at 250 °C. In SEM scans of the collected PM, spherical particles were observed during urea injection, with sizes of approximately 200 nm to 1 μm. This study was designed to determine the conditions under which nano-particles and PM are formed in a urea-SCR system and to relate these conditions to particle size and shape via a quantitative analysis in ND-13 mode.     

Roof strength performance improvement enablers

Before 2009, rollover in vehicle accidents had not been significantly studied not only because its rate is lower than other types of accidents but also because it had been easy to meet the rollover regulation, the FMVSS 216 Roof Crush Resistance target. The regulation only requires that the strength-to-weight ratio (SWR) be 1.5, i.e., it was acceptable when the roof could withstand a force of only 1.5 times the vehicle??s weight. In other words, rollover is not considered an important safety factor. However, presently, the situation has completely changed. Rollover is now considered a key safety factor. Recently, the number of rollover incidences has been increasing, reaching as much as the number of front, side and rear accidents. Furthermore, the IIHS has begun to require that the roof must withstand a force of 4.0 times the vehicle??s weight, a more severe restriction than FMVSS. To satisfy this requirement, many manufacturers, universities and institutes are studying the topic. This paper focuses on changing the body structure to minimize injury to the occupant when rollover occurs and help rollover safety performance become excellent. This paper draws on a simple analysis that is based on general factors: changes in the material, the addition of welds and additional reinforcements. The best result will be determined, as described by this paper.     

Design of Optimal Four-Wheel Steering System

Optimal design of the four wheel steering (4WS) system of the ground vehicle is studied. 4WS vehicles with the optimal control scheme are considered first. General formulation of the optimal control law is developed based on the linear quadratic regulator theory. The vehicle speed function (VSF) based 4WS vehicle with a simple feedback controller is considered as a special case of the optimal system. Two new designs of the VSF 4WS system are proposed and their performances are compared with the optimal 4WS systems and the existing VSF 4WS system. The first system is designed for the maximum stability while the second system is designed to emulate the response of the optimal 4WS vehicle. Advantages of the new VSF designs are discussed.     

Electrochemical battery model and its parameter estimator for use in a battery management system of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

This paper reports the development of a battery model and its parameter estimator that are readily applicable to automotive battery management systems (BMSs). Due to the parameter estimator, the battery model can maintain reliability over the wider and longer use of the battery. To this end, the electrochemical model is used, which can reflect the aging-induced physicochemical changes in the battery to the aging-relevant parameters within the model. To update the effective kinetic and transport parameters using a computationally light BMS, the parameter estimator is built based on a covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) that can function without the need for complex Jacobian matrix calculations. The existing CMA-ES implementation is modified primarily by region-based memory management such that it satisfies the memory constraints of the BMS. Among the several aging-relevant parameters, only the liquid-phase diffusivity of Li-ion is chosen to be estimated. This also facilitates integrating the parameter estimator into the BMS because a smaller number of parameter estimates yields the fewer number of iterations, thus, the greater computational efficiency of the parameter estimator. Consequently, the BMS-integrated parameter estimator enables the voltage to be predicted and the capacity retention to be estimated within 1 % error throughout the battery life-time.