Links between subjective and objective evaluations regarding the steering character of automobiles

This work presents an experiment on the relationships between subjective and objective evaluations of vehicle handling. Ten cars were examined objectively in several open-loop driving dynamics manoeuvres and subjectively by test persons in typical traffic situations. Results are extracted from a stationary test (the Slowly Increasing Steer Test), and a dynamical test (the Frequency Response Test). The subjective measurements are obtained from drivers on a rural road course via a questionnaire, which was developed to separately investigate the quantity level perception, the so-called “Niveau”, and the more qualitative “Liking”. These subjective “measurements” are embedded into a two-channel definition of “Steering Comfort” as a genus for “Steering Discomfort” and “Character”. The article concentrates on developing a statistical method for the consideration of correlations amongst the subjective/objective data. In doing so, the variance in example subjective Niveau ratings can be significantly explained by several objective quantities. Indicators for co-domains of validated discomfort characteristics and hints for endeavouring character Liking ranges are detected.     

Effect on friction of engine oil seal with engine oil viscosity

Low viscosity engine oil can improve a vehicle’s fuel economy by decreasing the friction between the engine components. Frictional torque varies with the velocity change due to different viscosity characteristics of SAE grade 5W-20, 5W-30 and 5W-40 engine oils. The viscosity for each of these grades was measured to outline the effect low viscosity engine oils have on engine friction, which may lead to improved fuel economy. Engine oil seal frictional torque increases with the shaft rotational speed for all three engine oil grades. A decrease in engine oil seal frictional torque was confirmed when low viscosity engine oil was used. Also, the leak-free performance of the engine oil with the seal satisfied the life limit durability test criteria. Thus, low viscosity engine oil may be used to improve fuel economy by decreasing the frictional loss of the engine oil seal while having no negative impact on performance due to leak-free functioning.     

Analysis process of a steering system using a concept model for idle vibration

This paper describes the development of an optimal design process for a steering column system and supporting system. A design guide is proposed at the initial concept stage of the development process to obtain sufficient stiffness of the steering system while reducing the idle vibration sensitivity of the system. Case studies on resonance isolation are summarized, where vibration modes among the systems are separated by applying a vibration mode map at the initial stage of the design process. This study also provides design guidelines for an optimal dynamic damper system using a CAE (computer aided engineering) analysis. The damper FE (finite element) model is added to the vehicle model to analyze the relation between the frequency and the sensitivity of the steering column system. This analysis methodology makes it possible to achieve target performance in the early design stage and reduction of damper tuning activity after the proto car test stage. Through the proposed steering column system development process, a lightweight vehicle with high stiffness is possible prior to the proto build stage. Furthermore, the improved process is expected to contribute to reducing the overall development period and the number of proto car tests necessary to achieve the desired steering system performance.     

Lane-following method for high speed autonomous vehicles

This paper presents a steering control method for lane-following in a vehicle using an image sensor. With each image frame acquired from the sensor, the steering control method determines target position and direction, and constructs a travel path from the current position to the target position either as an Arc-path or S-path. The steering angle is calculated from the travel path thus generated, and the vehicle follows the travel path via motor-control. The method was tested using a vehicle dubbed as KAV (Korea Autonomous Vehicle) along an expressway (Seoul Inner Beltway) trajectory with a variety of radii (50 m ∼ 300 m) while traveling at a speed of 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Compared with an experienced human driver, the method showed little much difference in performance in terms of lane-center deviation. The proposed method is currently employed for high speed autonomous driving as well as for stop and go traffic.     

双十字轴万向节转向系统力矩波动的优化设计

汽车转向力是汽车操纵稳定性评价中的重要指标,转向力的力矩波动直接影响着驾驶感受,合理的相位角设计能够有效地减少力矩波动。本文阐述了转向系统力矩波动原理,并运用该方法进行了某车型转向系统的优化设计。     

基于模态试验和有限元模态分析的转向盘怠速抖动改进

针对某车型怠速工况下转向盘抖动问题,对整车进行了怠速振动试验并对转向盘进行了模态试验,确认转向盘系统与仪表板横梁及横梁与车身连接处的连接刚度不足导致整个转向系统模态下降,从而引起了共振。针对该问题建立了转向系统有限元模型,并根据模态试验结果对模型进行了验证。在该模型基础上对上述连接刚度进行了优化,对优化方案进行试验验证的结果表明该方案有效。     

基于MSC的变矩器膨胀变形分析

为了准确快速地预测钣金型液力变矩器在工作负载下壳体的膨胀变形、提高液力变矩器性能、减少由于整体轴向刚体位移导致与周围零件的干涉,借助三坐标测量仪及UG软件平台建立并简化了变矩器内流道模型和变矩器壳体模型;利用仿真软件Gambit,Fluent对内流道模型进行分析,得出了壳体所受油压面力和轴向力;最后,借助软件MSC.Patran和MSC.Nastran对液力变矩器壳体的膨胀变形进行模拟仿真预测,并通过试验对仿真的结果进行验证.试验结果表明:试验与仿真分析的结果基本吻合;液力变矩器的轴向位移与油压大小呈线性关系;最大应力出现在壳体循环圆曲率发生突变最大的部分;最大应变出现在泵轮出口面和涡轮进口面所对应的壳体上.     

进气预热对柴油机起动过程动力性能影响的试验分析

为了改善某柴油机的起动特性,自行设计了柴油机进气火焰预热系统。利用基于时间的瞬时数据采集系统,测量了瞬时转速和缸内燃烧压力的变化规律,对不进气预热和进气预热条件下柴油机的起动特性进行了试验研究。试验结果表明:采用进气预热系统后,进气温度升高了18.5℃,柴油机起动过程中转速升高率增大,起动时间明显缩短;输出扭矩增大且波动明显减小;各个循环的最大燃烧压力升高且波动减小,燃油的着火滞燃期明显缩短,其着火过程中发生后燃、循环失火的概率明显减小,燃烧过程进行得更加充分,极大地改善了柴油机的起动性能。     

全速域异步电动机的改进型直接转矩控制

为了克服直接转矩控制在低速区的种种不足,改进型直接转矩控制被应用到大功率牵引传动系统的低速区。本文介绍了改进型直接转矩控制的基本原理,加入弱磁控制算法,同时采用一种适合工程应用的空间电压矢量PWM（SVPWM）过调制算法,将改进型直接转矩控制扩展到全速度范围。通过对此方案的实验验证,表明全速度范围异步电机转矩控制方案是可行的,系统具有良好的动静态性能,在具有较高开关频率的中小功率应用场合有着非常好的应用前景。