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.     

Design of Nonlinear Sliding Mode Controller with Pulse Width Modulation for Vehicular Slip Ratio Control

For the control of anti-lock brake system (ABS), a longitudinal four-wheel vehicle model with brake actuator is described and a sliding mode controller with pulse width modulation (PWM) method has been developed for passenger vehicles. In our research, we introduced actuator dynamics in the system equation and derived the equivalent control input theoretically. We propose using the PWM method to compensate for the discrete nature of actuator dynamics by duty control. Stability of the PWM controller for sliding mode control (SMC) was theoretically checked. The effectiveness of the proposed control algorithms was confirmed by vehicle tests on an In-door test bench that was specially constructed for the purpose concerned.     

Short‐term travel speed prediction models in car navigation systems

The objective of this study is the development of the short‐term prediction models to predict average spot speeds of the subject location in the short‐term periods of 5, 10 and 15 minutes respectively. In this study, field data were used to see the comparison of the predictability of Regression Analysis, ARIMA, Kalman Filtering and Neural Network models. These field data were collected from image processing detectors at the urban expressway for 17 hours including both peak and non‐peak hours. Most of the results were reliable, but the results of models using Kalman Filtering and Neural Networks are more accurate and realistic than those of the others.     

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.     

Mesh generation and hysteretic loss prediction of 3-D periodic patterned tire

This paper is concerned with the numerical prediction of the hysteretic loss-induced rolling resistance of 3-D periodic patterned tire. Elastomeric rubber compounds of rolling tire exhibit the hysteretic loss owing to the phase difference between stress- and strain-time responses. By virtue of this physical characteristic, the rolling resistance is considered as a pseudo-force resisting the tire rolling. The 3-D periodic patterned tire model is constructed by copying an 1-sector mesh in the circumferential direction, and strain cycles of each strain component are approximated by 3-D static tire contact analysis. According to the principal value of half strain amplitudes, the hysteretic loss is calculated in terms of the amplitude of the maximum principal strain and the loss modulus of rubber compound. The numerical results of 3-D periodic patterned tire are justified with the experimental data and compared with those of 3-D smooth tire.     

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.