Application of a thermodynamic model with a complex chemistry to a cycle resolved knock prediction on a spark ignition optical engine

A combination of experimental and numerical methodologies is proposed for the investigation of knocking in spark ignition engines to aid in better understanding the physical and chemical processes that occur and to exploit the capabilities of a developed computational tool. The latter consists of a thermo-fluid dynamics model, which is part of an advanced 1-D fluid dynamics code for the simulation of the entire engine, and a complex chemistry model, which can be embedded into the thermo-fluid dynamics model using the same integration algorithm for the conservation equations and the reacting species. Their mutual interaction in the energy balance will be considered. The experimental activity was carried out in the combustion chamber of an optically accessible, single-cylinder P.F.I. engine equipped with a commercial head. The experimental data consisted of optical measurements correlated to the combustion and auto-ignition processes within the cylinder. The optical measurements were based on 2-D digital imaging, UV visible natural emission spectroscopy and the chemiluminescence of radical species (OH and HCO). The engine parameters, the pressure signals of the related data and optical acquisition are compared on an individual cycle basis in the simulation by running the engine at a constant speed and varying the spark advance from normal combustion to heavy knock conditions.     

Cross-sectional shape design and optimization of automotive body with stamping constraints

At conceptual design stage, automotive body is usually simplified as a frame structure, which consists of thinwalled beams (TWBs). Therefore, the most important issue is to determine the cross-sectional shape of TWBs under the requirement of mechanical properties. However, design engineers mostly depend on their experience or repeated modification to design the cross-sectional shape of TWBs. So this paper presents a rapidly cross-sectional shape design and optimization method to satisfy the demand of mechanical properties and meanwhile minimize the weight of TWB. Firstly, cross-sectional mechanics property formulations are summarized. Especially, the torsional rigidity formulation of three-cell cross section is derived for the first time in this paper. Secondly, the shape optimization model is created to minimize the weight of TWB and improve the mechanical properties, which is solved by genetic algorithm. Moreover, three stamping constraints, draft angle, chamfer radius and assembly, are introduced to promote the cross-sectional shape more practice. Lastly, numerical examples verify the effectiveness of the optimization model and show the application in structural modification of automotive frame.     

A spatial decision support system for retail plan generation and impact assessment

Current geographic information systems typically offer limited analytical capabilities and lack the flexibility to support spatial decision making effectively. Spatial decision support systems aim to fill this gap. Following this approach, this paper describes an operational system for integrated land-use and transportation planning called Location Planner. The system integrates a wide variety of spatial models in a flexible and easy-to-use problem solving environment. Users are able to construct a model out of available components and use the model for impact analysis and optimization. Thus, in contrast to existing spatial decision support systems, the proposed system allows users to address a wide range of problems. The paper describes the architecture of the system and an illustrative application. Furthermore, the potentials of the system for land-use and transportation planning are discussed.     

美国新泽西州马纳霍金海湾大桥的疲劳问题

美国新泽西州72号公路马纳霍金海湾大桥的上部结构由17跨连续及悬臂铆接钢板梁和横梁系统组成,其中包括5跨销钉一吊杆悬挂梁.由于桥梁的"结构性能不足",20世纪90年代初对大桥进行了系统的修复工作.修复实施过程中,在很多部位发现了疲劳裂纹和桥面板混凝土剥落,疲劳裂纹主要为出现在横梁腹板的水平裂纹、横梁与主梁间托板连接角钢...     

机车的直接传动

长期以来,设计人员希望能简化电力机车动车的传动装置,尤其是希望去掉传动齿轮.为此对直接传动作了许多研究试验.牵引电动机去掉传动齿轮,必须按传动比发挥相应大的转矩.转矩大小对电机的体积有着决定性的影响.所以不是所有类型的电机都适用于直接传动.文章在永磁同步电机的基础上研究了全弹性悬挂和非弹性悬挂的机车直接传动.     

Influence of injection parameters on the transition from PCCI combustion to diffusion combustion in a small-bore HSDI diesel engine

In this paper, the influence of injection parameters on the transition from Premixed Charge Combustion Ignition (PCCI) combustion to conventional diesel combustion was investigated in an optically accessible High-Speed Direct-Injection (HSDI) diesel engine using multiple injection strategies. The heat release characteristics were analyzed using incylinder pressure for different operating conditions. The whole cycle combustion process was visualized with a high-speed video camera by simultaneously capturing the natural flame luminosity from both the bottom of the optical piston and the side window, showing the three dimensional combustion structure within the combustion chamber. Eight operating conditions were selected to address the influences of injection pressure, injection timing, and fuel quantity of the first injection on the development of second injection combustion. For some cases with early first injection timing and a small fuel quantity, no liquid fuel is found when luminous flame points appear, which shows that premixed combustion occurs for these cases. However, with the increase of first injection fuel quantity and retardation of the first injection timing, the combustion mode transitions from PCCI combustion to diffusion flame combustion, with liquid fuel being injected into the hot flame. The observed combustion phenomena are mainly determined by the ambient temperature and pressure at the start of the second injection event. The start-of-injection ambient conditions are greatly influenced by the first injection timing, fuel quantity, and injection pressure. Small fuel quantity and early injection timing of the first injection event and high injection pressure are preferable for low sooting combustion.     

Analysis of a Passive Sequential Hydraulic Damper for Vehicle Suspension

Vibration isolation characteristics of a sequential hydraulic damper, employing external pressure relief valves, are investigated via analytical means. The sequential hydraulic damper is modelled as a nonlinear dynamical system incorporating nonlinearities due to orifice flows, gas spring and pressure relief mechanisms. The damping characteristics of the sequential hydraulic damper, are compared to those of a constant orifice and a semi-active sequential damper, and discussed in view of their vibration isolation performance. It is established that the performance characteristics of the sequential hydraulic damper are similar to that of a semi-active sequential damper. A tuning methodology to achieve appropriate control of the resonant peak and effective vibration isolation is proposed. The shock and vibration isolation performance of the vehicle model employing a sequential damper are evaluated and compared to those of the vehicle model employing a constant orifice hydraulic damper. It is concluded that the vehicle ride performance can be improved considerably using an adequately tuned sequential damper.     

Container terminal productivity: a perspective

The increasing competitiveness of the marine transportation industry has brought about demands that container terminal productivity be improved. MARAD, in cooperation with the National Research Council, has responded by developing a number of quantitative measurements for container terminal productivity. In this paper we discuss the problems and prospects of using such measurements to estimate or compare the productivity of terminals or ports. Because physical or institutional factors, or a combination of the two, act to limit the productivity of every container terminal, quantitative productivity comparisons among terminals or ports may lead to misplaced efforts to improve the productivity of particular operational elements in piecemeal fashion. By contrast, a sensible strategy for managing productivity would involve the linking of productivity and cost data, so that existing productivity constraints can be intelligently shifted from one area of operations to another.     

Risk analysis of jackup rigs

Increasing attention has been focussed in the North Sea and elsewhere on the quantification of the risks of working in a hazardous enviroment: the offshore world. The perception of risk with respect to mobile rigs has often been vague and uninformed. This paper attempts to put the risks with respect to jackup rigs into perspective by quantifying them and comparing them to other risks.

This paper contains a few risk comparisons with fixed platforms, semi-submersibles, and drillships. Historical casualties are used in an example to show how a change intended to make an operation safer, may result in the opposite effect.

Examining risks from losses due to environmental overload, the conclusion is reached that jackups are very safe structures: there appears to be no jackup, in the timeframe examined, that has been lost because of a deficiency in the calculation methods currently in use by knowledgeable experts.     

Estimating bus component failure distributions from censored samples

A technique is developed and demonstrated which can be used to estimate bus component failure distributions in an operational setting. The advantage of the described method is that it estimates the distribution of an entire population when only a portion of that population has experienced a failure (censored samples). Further, in an operational setting, components in a population do not age at the same rate and thus, their ages (in miles) are not ordered with respect to time. A sampling technique is derived to draw an ordered, censored sample from a population that has been aged in an operational setting. The resulting sample is used to estimate the life distribution of the component of interest.