A Track-Wheel-Terrain Interaction Model for Dynamic Simulation of Tracked Vehicles

A mathematical model of track-wheel-terrain interaction is presented that supports the dynamic simulation of tracked vehicles. This model combines approximate and known constitutive laws for terrain response with a new representation for the track segment. The resulting track-wheel-terrain model allows the computation of the track tension and the normal and shear forces at the track-terrain interface as the track negotiates terrain of arbitrary profile. A key feature of this model is the uniform treatment of contact between the track and the roadwheels and the track and the terrain. Treating both contact problems in the same manner significantly simplifies the problem formulation and also reduces difficulties in computing points of track-wheel and track-terrain separation. The model takes the form of a two-point nonlinear boundary value problem that accounts for tension variations along the track (due to the non-uniformly distributed normal pressure and traction), track extensibility, and geometrically large (nonlinear) track deflections. Solutions are obtained using a finite element formulation. Both the model and the solution method are formulated for implementation within a multibody dynamics code for simulating full vehicles. Several examples illustrate the capabilities of the proposed model.     

Design of a Stroke Dependent Damper for the Front Axle Suspension of a Truck Using Multibody System Dynamics and Numerical Optimization

Summary A stroke dependent damper is designed for the front axle suspension of a truck. The damper supplies extra damping for inward deflections rising above 4 cm. In this way the damper should reduce extreme suspension deflections without deteriorating the comfort of the truck. But the question is which stroke dependent damping curve yields the best compromise between suspension deflection working space and comfort. Therefore an optimization problem is defined to minimize the maximum inward suspension deflection subject to constraints on the chassis acceleration for three typical road undulations. The optimization problem is solved using sequential linear programming (SLP) and multibody dynamics simulation software. Several optimization runs have been carried out for a small two degree of freedom vehicle model and a large full-scale model of the truck semi-trailer combination. The results show that the stroke dependent damping can reduce large deflections at incidental road disturbances, but that the optimum stroke dependent damping curve is related to the acceleration bound. By means of vehicle model simulation and numerical optimization we have been able to quantify this trade-off between suspension deflection working space and truck comfort.     

Validation of a Nonlinear Automotive Seat Cushion Vibration Model

A low-order, lumped parameter model is proposed to describe the vertical vibration compliance of an automotive seat. The model includes nonlinear stiffness and damping effects that mimic the properties exhibited by open cell foams that are commonly used in the construction of an automotive seat cushion. A shaped sandbag was positioned on a seat cushion and vibrated to obtain test data. White noise acceleration with amplitude ranging from 0.05 g rms to 0.45 g rms in increments of 0.05 g rms was used to excite the seat track. A luxury car seat and a sports car seat were tested and a nonlinear seat model was identified that predicts the actual test data with fidelity. The paper demonstrates that once a family of model parameters is identified for a particular seat, then the model can be used for a wide spectrum of seat track inputs. Additional experiments also verified that when the sandbag mass was increased by as much as 50%, the predicted response using the proposed model was in agreement with the measured response. Finally, the paper reports the result of an experiment using a human subject on a seat cushion. A simulation using the new cushion model and an ISO vibration model of a seated human produced response data that was very similar to the actual test data.     

Determination of coal-discharging port dimensions from a shipping point of view

In this paper, the authors examine, in the contest of the enormous expansion of the world coal trade following the Oil Crisis of 1973, the optimal size of coal-discharging terminals. The calculations were based on three shipping-related considerations" the structure of current (and future) coal-carrying vessels; the present size of the world's major coal-loading terminals and their plans for expansion; and the costs of transportation for the various vessel sizes, and constraints in sea-routes. Port-related elements, such as the cost of actual construction etc., were not included in the study. They conclude that the maximum size of a coal carrier is limited by the ability of ports to accommodate it, and that few ports can economically accomodate vessels larger than 150000 dwt. On the other side, vessels of larger than 150000 dwt operate under a number of constraints, meaning in the final analysis, that ports should aim to cater for vessels of around 1500000 dwt and so plan accordingly.     

Effects of the fuel injection ratio on the emission and combustion performances of the partially premixed charge compression ignition combustion engine applied with the split injection method

Currently, due to the severity of world-wide air pollution by substances emitted from vehicles, emission control is being enforced more strictly, and it is expected that the regulation requirements for emission will become even more severe. A new concept combustion technology that can reduce the Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PM in relation to combustion is urgently required. As a core combustion technology among new combustion technologies for the next generation engine, the homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is expanding its application range by adopting a multiple combustion mode, a catalyst, direct fuel injection and partially premixed charge compression ignition combustion using the split injection method. This paper used a split injection method in order to apply the partially premixed charge compression ignition combustion method without significantly altering engine specifications of the multiple combustion mode and practicality by referring to the results of studies on the HCCI engine. Furthermore, the effects of the ratio of the fuel injection amount on split injection are investigated. From the test results, the adequate combination of the ratio of the fuel injection amount for the split injection method has some benefit on exhaust and fuel economy performance in a naturally aspirated single cylinder diesel engine.     

Experimental investigation of abrasive flow machining effects on injector nozzle geometries,engine performance,and emissions in a di diesel engine

The effects of the Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM) process on a direct injection (DI) Diesel engine fuel injector nozzle are studied. Geometry characterization techniques were developed to measure the microscopic variations inside the nozzle before and after the process. This paper also provides empirically-based correlations of the nozzle geometry changes due to the AFM process. The resulting impact of the process on the engine performance and emissions are also assessed with a DI Diesel engine test setup. This study shows that properly AFM-processed injectors can enhance engine performance and improve emissions due to the improved quality of the nozzle characteristics. However, an extended process can also cause enlargement of the nozzle hole as a side effect, which can adversely affect emissions. Emission measurements show the trade-off for the minimum levels as the process proceeds. Since the enlargement of the hole during the AFM process is not avoidable and must be minimized, strict control over the process is required. This control can be enforced by either limiting the AFM processing period, or by properly preparing the initial hole diameter so as to accommodate the inevitable changes in the nozzle geometry.     

Estimation of battery state-of-charge using ν-support vector regression algorithm

Accurately estimating the SOC of a battery during the electric vehicle drive cycle is a vital issue that currently remains unresolved. A support vector regression algorithm (SVR), which has good nonlinear approximation ability, a quick convergence rate and global optimal solution, is proposed to estimate the battery SOC. First, the training data and the test data required in the estimation operation are collected using the ADVISOR software, followed by normalization of the data above. Then, cross validation and grid search methodologies are used to determine the parameters in the ν-SVR model. Finally, simulation experiments have been carried out in the LIBSVM simulator. The simulation results show that, compared to the BP neural network algorithm, the ν-Support Vector Regression algorithm performs better in estimating the battery SOC.     

Hybrid three-dimensional mesh generation from quad-dominant surface meshes

A hybrid mesh generation algorithm using a modified plastering method for three-dimensional objects with variable thickness is presented. The method starts with a quad-dominant surface mesh and generates layered elements with variable thickness by using adaptive offsetting, resulting in hex-tet dominant mesh generation. Hexahedral and prismatic meshes are generated by the inward offsetting of the initial boundary mesh. In order to generate a conforming mesh, pyramid elements are constructed on top of hexahedral elements, and tetrahedral elements are generated for the remaining domain by using an advancing front method. This method is applied to several different geometries, and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated.