Virtual durability test rigs for automotive engineering

In recent years so-called ‘virtual test rigs’ have become more and more important in the development process of cars and trucks. Originally, the idea was to substitute expensive durability tests with computer simulation. Meanwhile, the focus has changed towards a more cooperative usage of numerical and laboratory rig simulation. For many safety critical issues laboratory tests remain indispensable. In early development stages, when no physical prototypes are available yet, numerical simulation is used to analyse and optimise the design. In this paper, we show how to build numerical simulation models of complex servo-hydraulic test systems and their test specimen using multi-body simulation for the mechanics in combination with simulation models for the hydraulics and controls. We illustrate this at two industrial application examples: a spindle-coupled passenger car suspension rig and a tyre-coupled full vehicle rig. We show how the simulation models are used to design and optimise better test rigs and to support the test rig operation by preparing the physical tests with new specimen, i.e. by performing numerical simulations including numerical drive file iteration before the physical tests start.     

Influence of some vehicle and track parameters on the environmental vibrations induced by railway traffic

A study is performed on the influence of some typical railway vehicle and track parameters on the level of ground vibrations induced in the neighbourhood. The results are obtained from a previously validated simulation framework considering in a first step the vehicle/track subsystem and, in a second step, the response of the soil to the forces resulting from the first analysis. The vehicle is reduced to a simple vertical 3-dof model, corresponding to the superposition of the wheelset, the bogie and the car body. The rail is modelled as a succession of beam elements elastically supported by the sleepers, lying themselves on a flexible foundation representing the ballast and the subgrade. The connection between the wheels and the rails is realised through a non-linear Hertzian contact. The soil motion is obtained from a finite/infinite element model. The investigated vehicle parameters are its type (urban, high speed, freight, etc.) and its speed. For the track, the rail flexural stiffness, the railpad stiffness, the spacing between sleepers and the rail and sleeper masses are considered. In all cases, the parameter value range is defined from a bibliographic browsing. At the end, the paper proposes a table summarising the influence of each studied parameter on three indicators: the vehicle acceleration, the rail velocity and the soil velocity. It namely turns out that the vehicle has a serious influence on the vibration level and should be considered in prediction models.     

Active control for installation of underwater structures

The trend towards deepwater development requires a new approach to underwater installation of offshore structures. The present method using crane vessels has some drawbacks in operations at more than 2000 m depth. The natural period of the coupled system of the rigged structure and the crane vessel becomes longer, so that it is no longer possible to manipulate the cranes to achieve the desired positioning accuracy. This paper examines the application of an active control technique for underwater installations as one of the solutions to the present problems. An active control technique also has the advantage that it can deal with the structural flexibility which allows the structure to be large and light-weight. This structural flexibility imposes problems of suppressing the elastic responses and securing the stability of the control system. In this paper, anH _∞ controller combined with a low authority control/high authority control (LAC/HAC) feedback controller is designed for cases where structural flexibility cannot be ignored. A robust model-following controller is examined for cases where the structure can be treated as rigid. In order to confirm the control algorithm and verify the possibility of the active control installation method, basin tests are executed using two types of neutrally buoyant flexible models with ultrasound ranging systems and thrusters.     

The performance of route modification and demand stabilization strategies in stochastic vehicle routing

A key concern in managing vehicle routing operations under stochastic demands is whether, on the basis of travel distance, route modification yields materially greater logistical efficiency than fixed routes. This research uses statistical calibration as the primary technique to develop a robust and tractable model for estimating this difference in logistical efficiency. Based on features such as the models predictive accuracy and generalizability, it constitutes a substantive improvement over existing models. The present study also expands the range of predictive models relevant to vehicle routing under stochastic demands with models to estimate the transportation and inventory effects of persuading customers to stabilize their ordering patterns.     

高黎贡山隧道1号竖井设计及分析

为了满足高黎贡山隧道竖井施工任务要求，综合隧道所处环境及竖井能力需求，按照竖井井口、井筒、井下3方面统筹考虑的总体设计思路，提出高黎贡山隧道1号竖井设计关键问题的解决方案： 1）根据井口地形、地貌条件及提升设备、井口车场布置要求，合理布置井口场坪； 2）根据竖井功能定位，竖井宜采用主副井模式； 3）根据井下施工的出渣量、材料数量、人员进出量等综合考虑竖井断面尺寸； 4）当地质条件、水文地质条件允许时，竖井宜采用短段掘砌混合作业法施工，设置模筑混凝土井壁； 5）竖井提升设备宜按井下施工期间的要求考虑，建井期间各设备之间能力应匹配； 6）竖井施工能力应满足井下施工期间出渣、进料要求，并留有富余； 7）井底车场应结合运输方式及进料、出渣等功能要求确定； 8）竖井安全保障应首要解决地下水问题。目前高黎贡山隧道1号竖井主井已完成建井，结果表明铁路隧道竖井按照以上设计方法及思路是可行的。     

地铁车辆辅助逆变电源分析研究

分析直接逆变方式、斩波降压逆变方式、两重斩波降压逆变方式地铁车辆辅助逆变电源的电路结构方案。结合北京"复八线"地铁车辆进口辅助逆变电源的技术条件,介绍DC750V国产化地铁车辆辅助逆变电源的研制方案和主要技术特点。给出方案的试验波形。     

上海地铁车辆的临修技术[2]——车辆空调及客室车门的临修

介绍了地铁车辆空调的一般故障及临修方法,并分析了车辆移动门与塞拉门的特点,对其故障与临修技术进行了说明。     

基于跑车试验的新欣南大桥冲击系数研究

基于冲击系数的不确定性，采用移动跑车试验方法得到桥梁最不利荷载位置处的动、静挠度值，结合新欣南大桥汽车冲击系数，对其进行相应的理论分析比较，得到以下结论：随着车速的增加，汽车冲击系数有先增大后减小的趋势，并在一定车速下取得最大值。而各国相关规范中冲击系数的计算值与实测值差距很大，实测冲击系数随着车速的变化会有一定的差别，各国规范并没有反映出其变化规律，因此需要依据大量的移动荷载试验展开研究。     

电动汽车动力电池热失控过程分析及预警机制设计

文章通过实验数据对热失控发生的过程进行分析,提取出关键的信号特征。设计出一套全面完整的热失控预警系统,并总结出多个报警条件,避免出现故障的误报及漏报的情况。最后介绍了热失控预警后整车及大数据的应对措施。