bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation of High Octane Gasoline Fuel(s) on High Compression Ratio (HCR) Motorcycle – Based on Chassis Dynamometer Test
Authors: Saroj Shyamsher , Kalita Mrinmoy , Kumar Prashant , Kant Chander , Patanwal Pradeep , Chakradhar Maya , Sithananthan M , Arora Ajay Kumar , Harinarain Ajay Kumar , Maheshwari Mukul
Published: April 2024

The present study aims to determine the comparative performance evaluation in terms of fuel economy (kmpl) and wide open throttle (WOT) power derived from set of different blends of high octane gasoline fuel(s) i.e., Neat Gasoline (E0), E10 & E20 (With different dosages of additives) in high compression ratio (HCR) motorcycle on chassis dynamometer facility.

With the Government of India focus on use of alcohol as co-blend of gasoline with the endeavour to save foreign exchange and also to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The commercially available blended fuels, E10 & E20, have high research octane number (RON, 92-100) and as per the available literature high RON fuel have the better anti-knocking tendencies thereby lead to higher fuel economy.

There are various routes to formulate high octane fuel (refining technologies, additive approach & ethanol blending route) in the range of 92-100 octane number which are currently commercialized in Indian market. In the present study, ethanol based high octane fuel blend(s) along with doping of novel indigenous type of additives (multifunctional additive & octane booster) to achieve the utilization benefits in terms of fuel economy (FE) & power improvement.

The findings of present study largely suggest that with the high octane fuel blends (only ethanol) the fuel economy and Wide Open Throttle (WOT) power reduces. On the other hand, by adding gasoline multi-functional additive (GMFA) in combination of octane booster in the ethanol blended fuels, fuel economy and WOT power are compensated fairly. Fuel economy and Wide Open Throttle (WOT) power were investigated under operating conditions (Indian driving cycle - IDC). On adding ethanol only by 10% and 20% in gasoline the fuel economy is lowered by 1.9% and 4.94% respectively. The loss in fuel economy is reduced by 0.74% and 3.36% through addition of indigenously developed GMFA with Octane Booster in E10 & E20 gasoline blends.
Next Generations of Gasoline Particulate Filters for Catalyzed Applications
Authors: Boger Thorsten , Rose Dominik , Li Chunbo , Chijiiwa Ryoko , Remy Christophe , Alam Rabeka
Published: April 2024

Gasoline particulate filters (GPF) have become a standard aftertreatment component in Europe, China, and since recently, India, where particulate emissions are based on a particle number (PN) standard. The anticipated evolution of regulations in these regions towards future EU7, CN7, and BS7 standards further enhances the needs with respect to the filtration capabilities of the GPFs used. Emission performance has to be met over a broader range in particle size, counting particles down to 10nm, and over a broader range of boundary conditions. The requirements with respect to pressure drop, aiming for as low as possible, and durability remain similar or are also enhanced further.

To address these future needs new filter technologies have been developed. New technologies for uncatalyzed GPF applications have been introduced in our previous publications. In this contribution we will describe novel Generation 2 and 3 technologies of Corning’s high porosity Corning® DuraTrap® GC HP filters for applications in which the GPF is capable of being coated with a catalyst. The new technologies are based on improved microstructure and Corning’s proprietary Accelerated Purification Technology (APT) to enable a hierarchical pore design, respectively. In the paper we will describe the generic product concept of these new technologies and present test data obtained in the laboratory as well as vehicle and engine bench testing. The test data are based on well-defined laboratory test procedures as well as procedures representing real world driving conditions. To address the global character of GPFs, test data from European as well as Chinese vehicle applications and test programs will be discussed. The test data will demonstrate that with the new technologies very high filtration efficiencies can be obtained also for catalyzed GPFs, without having to tolerate an excessive pressure drop.
A Preliminary Study on the Evaporative Cooling System for FCEV
Authors: PARK Ui Joon , Kwon Soon Beom , Choi Kyung Jun , Lee Gil Woo , Oh Dong Seok
Published: April 2024

The existing FCEV have been developed with only a few vehicle models. With the diversification of both passenger and commercial FCEV lineups, as well as the increasing demand for vehicle trailer towing, there is a growing need for high-capacity fuel cell stacks to be applied in vehicles. However, at the current level, there are limitations and issues that arise, such as insufficient power output and reduced driving speed. As a results, the importance of thermal energy management has been increasing along with the increase in required power. Traditional cooling performance enhancement methods have mainly focused on developing increased hardware specifications, but even this approach has reached its limitation due to package, cost and weight problem. Therefore, it is essential to develop a new cooling system to solve the increases in heat dissipation. This study aims to develop an evaporative cooling system using water as a by-product of the stacks, and to identify the effects of variables, such as mass flow rate, spray angle, position and pressure, on its performance. The key factors of the system were analyzed in detail and locally, and STAR CCM+ was used to simulate to address the issue of high cost during evaluation. Additionally, quantitative sprayed areas were identified for cooling performance test. Based on the analysis results, empirical evaluation plan was carried out, and the performance of the cooling system was validated through the decreases in inlet temperature of the radiator. Through evaluation, it was possible to select the optimal nozzle specifications and positions. It was confirmed that the reduction in coolant inlet temperature could solve the issue of excessive heat dissipation. Additionally, by reducing the power consumption of the compressor in air conditioning system, it was possible to confirm the potential increases in driving range when applied to electric vehicle.
Life Cycle Assessment of a State-of-the-Art Diesel powered Engine and Preliminary Evaluation of its Conversion into a Novel Hydrogen powered Engine
Authors: Malagrinò Gianfranco , Accardo Antonella , Costantino Trentalessandro , Pensato Michele , Spessa Ezio
Published: April 2024

This paper is part of a broader research project aiming at studying, designing, and prototyping a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine to achieve fast market implementation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable costs. The ability to provide a fast market implementation is linked to the fact that the technological solution would exploit the existing production chain of internal combustion engines. Regarding the technological point of view, the hydrogen engine will be a monofuel engine re-designed based on a diesel-powered engine. The redesign involves specific modifications to critical subsystems, including combustion systems, injection, ignition, exhaust gas recirculation, and exhaust gas aftertreatment. Notably, adaptations include the customization of the cylinder head for controlled ignition, optimization of camshaft profiles, and evaluation of the intake system. The implementation incorporates additive manufacturing for the production of new intake manifolds and a new turbocharger in order to optimize the volumetric efficiency of the new hydrogen engine. The project is targeting a wide range of applications (automotive, cogeneration, maritime, off-road, railroad, etc.). This paper focuses on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the diesel-powered engine and preliminary evaluates the effects of its conversion into a hydrogen-powered engine in terms of environmental impacts. The LCA system boundary is cradle-to-grave, and the assessment is entirely based on primary data (i.e., company-specific material and energy flows are used), which is one of the main novelties of this article. The results show that climate change, use of fossil resources, freshwater ecotoxicity, acidification, and particulate matter are the five most relevant impact categories. The diesel engine results in a carbon footprint of 0.36 kg CO2eq/km, with the use phase being the main contributor to the whole life cycle, as expected. In terms of climate change, the preliminary LCA evaluation of the hydrogen engine demonstrates that hydrogen may be a valid solution if produced from certain production routes, i.e., considering steam methane reforming and coal gasification combined with carbon capture storage systems.
Application Study of Solar Energy and Heat Management System Utilizing Phase Change Materials in Parking Facilities
Authors: Zhang Tianming , Zheng Haoyun , Sun Mingzhe , Zhang Jiayi , Ren Jindong
Published: April 2024

Ambient temperature is a very sensitive use condition for electric vehicles (EVs), so it is imperative to ensure the maintenance of suitable temperature. This is particularly important in regions characterized by prolonged exposure to unfavorable temperature conditions. In such cases, it becomes necessary to implement insulation measures within parking facilities and allocate energy resources to sustain a desired temperature level. Solar energy is a renewable and environmentally friendly source of energy that is widely available. However, the effectiveness of utilizing solar energy is influenced by various factors, such as the time of day and weather conditions. The use of phase change material (PCM) in a latent heat energy storage (LHES) system has gained significant attention in this field. In contrast to single-phase energy storage materials, PCM offer a more effective heat storage capacity. Leveraging their attributes, PCM can harness their latent heat to address the issue of uneven temporal distribution of solar energy when the ambient temperature spans the phase change temperature range. However, the practical application of PCM varies depending on the region and energy system, and may not be ideal in many areas. To address this issue, this study focuses on a city in Northeast China and examines its solar energy utilization and meteorological characteristics. It proposes a solar energy utilization and heat management system for parking facilities, which incorporates a phase change energy storage device that takes into account the regional characteristics of the city. Through experimental analysis and comparison, the study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed system in practical applications, and it can economically and effectively utilize solar energy. This can lead to a substantial extension of stable heat dissipation time, allowing for a reduction in traditional heating and contributing to the realization of low-carbon parking facilities.
Developing a dynamic test protocol for the updated IIHS deformable barrier
Authors: Mueller Becky , Arbelaez Raul , Heitkamp Eric , Mampe Christopher
Published: April 2024

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) introduced its updated side-impact ratings test in 2020 to address the nearly 5,000 fatalities occurring annually on U.S. roads in side crashes. Research for the updated test indicated the most promising avenue to address the remaining real-world injuries was a higher severity vehicle-to-vehicle test using a striking barrier that represents a sport utility vehicle. A multi-stiffness aluminum honeycomb barrier was developed to match these conditions. The complexity of a multi-stiffness barrier design warranted research into developing a new dynamic certification procedure. A dynamic test procedure was created to ensure product consistency. The current study outlines the process to develop a dynamic barrier certification protocol. The final configuration includes a rigid inverted T-shaped fixture mounted to a load cell wall. This fixture is impacted by the updated IIHS moving deformable barrier at 30 km/h. The fixture represents the stiff sections of a typical vehicle’s side structure and creates deformation patterns on the deformable barrier that are similar to the baseline results established during the development of the updated IIHS side crashworthiness test. Three different barrier manufacturers submitted 3–4 samples each for evaluation. These barriers were tested to determine performance and quality across manufacturers. Load cell wall data was used to establish force-displacement corridors for the center and left/right sections of the deformable barrier. The corridors will be used as part of a periodic certification process that barrier manufacturers can use to prove their finished products and manufacturing processes meet IIHS requirements.
A Mechanical Energy Control Volume Approach Applied to CFD Simulations of Road Vehicles
Authors: Norman Paul , Howard Kevin
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a mechanical energy control volume analysis for incompressible flow around road vehicles using results from Detached Eddy Simulation Computational Fluid Dynamics calculations. The control volume approach equates the rate of work done by surface forces of the vehicle to (i) the rate of work and kinetic energy flux at the control volume boundaries (particularly in the vehicle wake) and (ii) the rate of energy loss in the domain. At the downstream control volume boundary, the wake terms can be divided into lift-induced and profile drag terms. The rate of energy loss in the domain can be used as a volumetric analog for drag (drag counts/m3, when normalized). This allows for a quantitative break down of the contributions of different flow features/regions to the overall drag force. The formulation presented here includes terms for common features in automotive CFD simulations including shaft power (also known as ventilation drag) from rotating wheels, static ground patches, moving belts, and porous media. The Windsor body at 2.5 degrees yaw from the AutoCFD-3 workshop is used for a proof of concept on a simple bluff body. The effect of changing mesh resolution, time step, numerical scheme, and CFD solver are considered. Simulations of the closed-cooling DrivAer and Generic Truck Utility (GTU) are used to evaluate the method on more realistic representations of road vehicles, where it is shown that the control volume approach provides a different but complimentary perspective from the surface-based drag.
The Aerodynamic Development of the New BREZZA and FRONX
Authors: Dey Sukanta , Bajpai Devesh , Kumar Chandan , Regin Felix
Published: April 2024

MSIL (Maruti Suzuki India Limited), India’s leading carmaker, has various SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicle) in its model lineup. Traditionally, SUVs are considered to have a bold on-road presence and this bold design language often deteriorates aerodynamic drag performance. Over the years, the demand for this segment has significantly grown, whereas the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) norms have become more stringent. To cater this growing market demand, MSIL planned for two new SUVs: (1) New BREZZA - A bolder design with similar targeted aerodynamic performance compared to its predecessor (BREZZA-2016) and (2) FRONX - A new cross-over SUV vehicle targeted best-in-class aerodynamic performance in this category at MSIL. This paper illustrates the aerodynamic development process for these two SUVs using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and full scale WTT (Wind Tunnel Test). During the initial stages, the bolder design of the New BREZZA (2022) deteriorated the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle. Styling exterior surface modifications and addition of new aero parts facilitated the recovery of aerodynamic drag performance. The front & rear bumper corners, roof end spoiler profile, rear quarter glass edging, slits on fender lining and air-dam on rear bumper helped in air flow attachment. In FRONX, the styling design language had been created by considering ambitious aerodynamic performance requirements. The aerodynamic silhouette consisting of hood-windshield transition, roof lining, optimized backdoor spoiler, side body profile etc. along with underbody aero-parts like underbody covers, strakes and central air-dam improved the aerodynamic efficiency in FRONX by 11% with respect to base model BREZZA-2016. To achieve this improvement in aerodynamic drag values, major technical counter measures in external shape and addition of aero parts while retaining the SUV styling image were done. This paper illustrates how these changes were realized in the aerodynamic development process and the corresponding air flow phenomenon.
Risk field enhanced game theoretic model for interpretable and consistent lane-changing decision makings
Authors: Xia Taokai , Chen Hui , Su Shaoka
Published: April 2024

This paper presents an integrated modeling approach for real-time discretionary lane-changing decisions by autonomous vehicles, aiming to achieve human-like behavior. The approach incorporates a two-player normal-form game and a novel risk field method. The normal-form game represents the strategic interactions among traffic participants. It captures the trade-offs between lane-changing benefits and risks based on vehicle motion states during a lane change. By continuously determining the Nash equilibrium of the game at each time step, the model decides when it is appropriate to change the lane. A novel risk field method is integrated with the game to model risks in the game pay-offs. The risk field introduces regions along the desired target lane with different time headway ranges and risk weights, capturing traffic participants' complex risk perceptions and considerations in lane-changing scenarios. It goes beyond simple gap acceptance assumptions used in previous studies, providing more human-like risk estimations. Discretionary lane-changing data from human drivers extracted from the NGSIM I80 dataset were employed to calibrate the integrated model for human-like lane-change decisions. The calibration results demonstrate the high prediction accuracy of the proposed model compared to previous studies. The calibrated risk field parameters in the model provide interpretability and contribute to a deeper understanding of human lane-changing decisions. The proposed model also exhibits improved consistency in lane-changing decisions within a continuous time range around the lane-crossing moment. It outperforms previous game-theoretic models that rely on acceleration and time pay-offs with specific assumptions about future vehicle motions. Several case studies were carried out in the co-simulations of CARLA and SUMO software and based on the NGSIM dataset samples. The model's ability to produce reliable and interpretable lane-changing decisions enhances autonomous vehicles' overall safety and user experience.
Topology and Build Orientation Optimization for Additive Manufacturing: Influence of Printing on Raft and Build Plate
Authors: Crispo Luke , Kim Il Yong
Published: April 2024

As additive manufacturing technology advances, it is becoming a more feasible option for fabricating highly complex, lightweight structures in the automotive industry. To take advantage of the improved design freedom and to reduce support structures for the selected printing orientation, components must be designed specifically for additive manufacturing. A new approach for accomplishing this process combines topology and build orientation optimization, which aims to simultaneously determine the ideal build direction and component design to maximize stiffness and reduce additive manufacturing costs. Current techniques in literature are formulated for specific categories of additive manufacturing: either methods that print on a support structure raft or print directly on the build plate. However, these two categories have very different relationships between part orientation and support structure, resulting in distinct optimal orientations for each additive manufacturing category. This work proposes a flexible overhang area calculation methodology that can be applied to either additive manufacturing category, by deriving an element-level indictor that determines whether a given element is located on the build plate. The approach is integrated into a combined topology and build orientation framework that minimizes compliance and overhang area with a volume fraction constraint. An automotive control arm test case is used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, comparing a baseline optimized design to overhang-minimized designs. The optimized orientations and topologies varied significantly when designing for additive manufacturing methods that print on a raft compared to the build plate, demonstrating the importance of considering this distinction.
Electric vehicle battery health aware DC fast-charging recommendation system
Authors: Hegde Bharatkumar , Haskara Ibrahim
Published: April 2024

DC fast charging (DCFC) also referred to as L3 charging, is the fastest charging technology to replenish the drivable range of an electric vehicle. DCFC provides the convenience of faster charging time compared to L1 and L2 at the expense of potentially increased battery health degradation. It is known to accelerate battery capacity fade leading to reduced range and lifetime of the EV battery. While there are active efforts and several means to reduce the downsides of DCFC at cell chemistry level, this trade-off is still an important consideration for most battery cells in automotive propulsion applications. Since DCFC is a customer driven technology, informing drivers of the trade-off of each DCFC event can potentially result in better outcomes for the EV battery life. Traditionally, the driver is advised to limit DCFC events without providing quantifiable metrics to inform their decisions during EV charging. A recommendation system for DCFC based on battery health optimization is proposed in this work. The optimization framework uses historical driver behavior, both in charging and driving, which customizes the DCFC recommendation. It is further informed by a battery capacity fade model that is sensitive to different modes of charging. Dynamic programming is employed to compute the remaining fast charging budget for an end-of-life battery capacity target. Results of the optimization and the resulting fast charging recommendation scenario is presented. The fast-charging recommendation system is shown to be capable of meeting the end-of-life battery capacity target through appropriate sequencing and advising of charge events.
Reducing Emissions from Lean-Burn Hydrogen Combustion Engines Using a State-of-the-Art Oxidation Catalyst and a VWTi-Based SCR Catalyst: Potentials and Challenges
Authors: Lott Patrick , Schäfer Kathrin , Deutschmann Olaf , Werner Manuel , Weinmann Philipp , Zimmermann Lisa , Toebben Heike
Published: April 2024

Hydrogen (H2) is commonly considered as one of the most promising carbon-free energy carriers allowing for a decarbonization of combustion applications, for instance by retrofitting of conventional diesel internal combustion engines (ICEs). Although modern H2-ICEs emit only comparably low levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx), efficient catalytic converters are mandatory for exhaust gas after-treatment in order to establish near-zero emission applications. In this context, the present study evaluates the performance of a commercial state-of-the-art oxidation catalyst (OC) and of a catalyst for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) that are typically used for emission reduction from diesel exhausts under conditions representative for H2-fueled ICEs, namely oxygen-rich exhausts with high water vapor levels, comparably low temperatures, and potentially considerable levels of unburnt H2. Herein, the OC is supposed to convert H2 slippage, which can occur due to incomplete combustion, and to oxidize NO to NO2, which enables an efficient NOx removal over the SCR catalyst. While the vanadia-based SCR catalyst was barely affected by high water vapor levels, the presence of H2, or hydrothermal aging, H2O inhibited NO to NO2 oxidation over the OC and hydrothermal aging with 20 vol.-% H2O resulted in significant deactivation of the OC. At the cost of producing the inhibitor H2O and the greenhouse gas N2O, the presence of H2 facilitates a fast light-off due to temperature generation. These results underscore the importance of developing suitable catalyst operation strategies that account for efficient pollutant conversion and avoid secondary emissions formation.
Side Impact Characteristics in Modern Light Vehicles
Authors: Parenteau Chantal , Ault B. Nicholas , Toomey Daniel , Krishnaswami Ram , Burnett Roger
Published: April 2024

Occupant protection in side impacts, in particular for near-side occupants, is a challenge due to the occupant’s close proximity to the impact. Near-side occupants have limited space to ride down the impact. Curtain and side airbags fill the gap between occupant and the side interior. This analysis was conducted to provide insight on the characteristics of side impacts and the relevancy of currently regulated test configurations. For this purpose, 2007-2015 NASS-CDS and 2017-2021 CISS side crash data were analyzed for towed light vehicles. 2008 and newer model year vehicle data was selected to ensure that most vehicles were equipped with side/curtain airbags.

The results showed that side impacts accounted for approximately 26.7% of the vehicles involved and 18.9% of the vehicles with at least one seriously injured occupant. Most side impacts involved damage to the front and front-to-center of the vehicle. For seriously injured (MAIS 3+F) occupants, impacts to the occupant compartment accounted for more than 83% when near-sided and 86% when far-sided. Most serious-to-fatally injured near- and far-side occupants were involved in pure lateral (3 o’clock, 9 o’clock) and slightly oblique (2 o’clock, 10 o’clock) impacts.

The overall risk of serious injury was highest in distributed and front-to-center impacts. The occupant injury risk was more than 2 times higher when near-sided than far-sided, highlighting the need to test at this location. The median delta-V associated with serious injury to far-side occupants was 6.0 km/h higher than for near-side occupants, at 31.3 km/h and 25.4 km/h, respectively. Understanding crash characteristics provides insight into field relevancy of crash scenarios used to evaluate occupant responses. The results from this study suggest that current side impact standards are representative of a serious real world side impact.
Procedures for Experimental Characterization of Thermal Properties in Li-Ion Battery Modules and Parameters Identification for Thermal Models
Authors: Fiorillo Francesco , El Idrissi Faissal , Ramesh Prashanth , Canova Marcello , Senatore Adolfo , Frosina Emma , Andreozzi Assunta , Iasiello Marcello , Romagnuolo Luca
Published: April 2024

Concerns about climate change have significantly accelerated the process of vehicle electrification to improve the sustainability of the transportation sector. Increasing the adoption of electrified vehicles is closely tied to the advancement of reliable energy storage systems, with lithium-ion batteries currently standing as the most widely employed technology. One of the key technical challenges for reliability and durability of battery packs is the ability to accurately predict and control the temperature of the cells and temperature gradient between cells inside the pack. For this reason, accurate models are required to predict and control the cell temperature during driving and charging operations. This work presents a set of procedures tailored to characterize and measure the thermal properties in li-ion cells and modules. Thermal parameters such as the specific heat capacity, the heat conduction coefficient through the cell thickness and the cell-to-cell heat transfer coefficient are obtained via dedicated experimental setups and test protocols. The tests allow one to estimate the overall thermal resistance in the case of cell-to-cell contact, accounting to conduction and contact resistance. The experimental procedures are utilized to inform the calibration process of thermal models predicting the heat generation, dissipation and temperature distribution in large format li-ion cells and modules. The identified parameters are validated using a different set of data with an electro-thermal model. Validation of the procedure against experimental data confirms the ability of the model to predict well the temperature of the cells.
Computational Investigation of Hydrogen-Air Mixing in a Large-Bore Locomotive Dual Fuel Engine
Authors: O'Donnell Patrick , Kazmouz Samuel , Wu Sicong , Ameen Muhsin , Klingbeil Adam , Lavertu Thomas , Jayakar Vijayaselvan , Sheth Pushkar , Wijeyakulasuriya Sameera
Published: April 2024

The internal combustion engine (ICE) has long dominated the heavy-duty sector by using liquid fossil fuels such as diesel but global commitments by countries and OEMs to reduce lifecycle carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has garnered interest in alternative fuels like hydrogen. Hydrogen is a unique gaseous fuel that contains zero carbon atoms and has desired thermodynamic properties of high energy density per unit mass and high flame speeds. However, there are challenges related to its adoption to the heavy-duty sector as a drop-in fuel replacement for compression ignition (CI) diesel combustion given its high autoignition resistance. To overcome this fundamental barrier, engine manufacturers are exploring dual fuel combustion engines by substituting a fraction of the diesel fuel with hydrogen which enables fuel flexibility when there is no infrastructure and retrofittability to existing platforms. This work studies the implications of mixing port-injected hydrogen fuel in a large-bore rail engine operating with hydrogen-diesel dual fuel combustion. Previous work was done to validate a single-cylinder computational model to data collected on this engine when operating with dual fuel combustion of natural gas and diesel. This model was then modified to employ gaseous hydrogen as the port injected fuel. First, a grid sensitivity study was performed, and it was concluded that the computational mesh was refined enough to minimize numerical error. Modeling implications are then investigated by comparing two RANS turbulence models in terms of their prediction of turbulent mixing predictions of hydrogen and air. It was seen that both had minimal differences in bulk mass flow trends, but choice of RANS turbulence model could impact qualitative predictions of fuel-air stratification. Lastly, hydrogen injection timing and flow rate were varied, and it was concluded that the highest injection flow rate is best for both premixing hydrogen with air and reducing hydrogen mass left in the intake. Additionally, given the potential limitations of hydrogen injection pressure, injection timing can be advanced to allow more time for mixing when injection velocity is maximized.
Methanol Mixing-Controlled Compression Ignition with Ignition Enhancer for Off-Road Engine Operation
Authors: Lee Sanguk , Lopez Pintor Dario , Cho Seokwon
Published: April 2024

Methanol is one of the most promising fuels for the decarbonization of the off-road and transportation sectors. Although methanol is typically seen as an alternative fuel for spark ignition engines, mixing-controlled compression ignition (MCCI) combustion is typically preferred in most off-road and medium-and heavy-duty applications due to its high reliability, durability and high-efficiency. In this paper, the potential of using ignition enhancers to enable methanol MCCI combustion was investigated.

Methanol was blended with 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (EHN) and experiments were performed in a single-cylinder production-like diesel research engine, which has a displacement volume of 0.83 L and compression ratio of 16:1. The effect of EHN has been evaluated with three different levels (3%vol, 5%vol, and 7%vol) under low- and part-load conditions. The injection timing has been swept to find the stable injection window for each EHN level and load. With the highest EHN level, better combustion stability and the widest combustion control window were found due to the higher reactivity of the fuel. However, NOx emissions increased as the EHN level increases mainly due to the contribution of the nitrate group of EHN to engine-out NOx. Stable combustion under low-load condition was achieved only with 7%vol EHN. Due to the absence of carbon-to-carbon bonding and high oxygen content in the fuel, highly improved particle emission characteristics were detected regardless the level of EHN. Finally, comparisons against baseline operation with diesel fuel show that higher thermal efficiency values can be reached with methanol MCCI for a given engine-out NOx level due to much lower heat transfer loses.
Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Performance with Biodiesel Formulations
Authors: Lakkireddy Venkata , Weber Phillip , McCormick Robert , Howell Steve
Published: April 2024

Biodiesel (i.e., mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils and animal fats) is a renewable diesel fuel providing life-cycle greenhouse gas emission reductions relative to petroleum-derived diesel. With the expectation that there would be widespread use of biodiesel as a substitute for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), there have been many studies looking into the effects of biodiesel on engine and aftertreatment, particularly its compatibility to the current aftertreatment technologies. The objective of this study was to generate experimental data to measure the effectiveness of a current technology diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) to oxidize soy-based biodiesel at various blend levels with ULSD. Biodiesel blends from 0 to 100% were evaluated on an engine using a conventional DOC. In the steady-state performance test where fuel dosing rate was increased at fixed DOC inlet temperature, B20 performed similarly to ULSD at the lowest flow rate or exhaust temperature over 340°C for medium and high flows. B50 blends performed nearly as well under most conditions. Higher blends exhibited reduced thermal efficiency and DOC outlet temperature with increasing dosing rate under most conditions and required exhaust temperatures over 400°C to achieve or nearly achieve performance similar to ULSD. In the steady-state light of test where fuel dosing rate is fixed but exhaust temperature is increased incrementally, B20 generally performed similarly to ULSD at the highest inlet temperature, with only minor deficiencies at lower temperatures. Higher blends exhibited lower thermal efficiency and did not achieve as high DOC outlet temperatures. In the transient light-off test light-off temperature for ULSD was typically less than 225°C, while for B100 it ranged from 290°C to 330°C. Based on the data set, it can be concluded that biodiesel fuels have a higher light-off temperature primarily because of their higher boiling points, with a minor secondary impact of their lower energy content.
Research on the Anti-Shuffle Control for Hybrid Electric Vehicles in the Pure Electric Mode
Authors: Jing Junchao , Zhang Junzhi , Liu Yiqiang , Huang Weishan , Dai Zhengxing
Published: April 2024

In hybrid vehicles, the drive motor is directly connected to the drive train and the inherent drive train damping is low. When subjected to external disturbance, the low damping characteristics of the transmission system may cause torsional vibration, which will continue to oscillate the transmission system and affect the driving performance of the vehicle. In this paper, we propose a harmonic injection wheel control method based on motor speed to suppress oscillations and improve the driving performance of hybrid electric vehicles. The harmonic injection control method based on motor speed is based on Fourier transform to decompose sinusoidal harmonics based on specific order of motor speed. RLS algorithm is used to estimate the amplitude and phase, and PI control is used to calculate the compensation torque for the actual amplitude and target amplitude. Simulation and test results show that the proposed control strategy is effective in suppressing oscillations. With the active damping control of the motor, the peak of motor speed fluctuation decreased by 48% before optimization, and the vehicle impact is suppressed to 44.35% before optimization. In parallel mode, the engine anti-vibration control can reduce the vehicle impact by 32% and increase the torque adjustment time by 61%. The results show that the proposed control system can still effectively suppress transmission system oscillation and improve driving performance.
Development of an Automated CAD Database and Application on Aluminum Wheel
Authors: Seo Jeongin , Jang Youngseok , Seo Myoungkyu , Yum Kiho
Published: April 2024

As data science technologies are being widely applied on various industries, the importance of data itself increased. A typical manufacturer company has a vast data set of products as 2D&3D drawing formats, but a common problem was that building a database from the 2D&3D drawings costs much, and it is hard to update the database after it once built. Also, it is high-cost job when the new factor researched and necessary to investigate the new factors on previously fixed or uploaded drawings. As new products are developed with time, these problems are getting more difficult. In this paper, an automated database building method using CATIA introduced and future probabilities are suggested. An aluminum wheel part was used as an example. An automated logic used CATIA V5’s VBA functions and was handled by python programming language. Product database was established by using the automated logic for extracting engineering design features, and data mining process was deployed based on the extracted data. The database established from part drawings consists of tabular features and 2D images of projection views. CNN and DNN fusion models were used for wheel weight regression, and Auto-Encoder was used for searching similarity in z-space. Using z-space distance among wheel images, it was able to find similar wheel designs. By using the methods of this paper, establishing and analyzing database were efficiently performed with low cost. This paper shows that constructing database on currently existing 2D&3D drawings can be done with low cost and suggests that inserting the method into a product life cycle as a middle process can build a fully automated data science cycle as future work.
Testing and Analysis of Riding a Road Bicycle over an Artificial Pothole
Authors: Sweet David Michael , Bretting Gerald , Wilhelm Christopher
Published: April 2024

Whenever bicyclists ride on public roads, they ride through roadway defects which occasionally causes them to lose control of their bicycles and/or damage components. Previous research has quantified the forces experienced during general road and offroad riding, but did not study the specific influences of variables such as pothole geometry, riding speed, etc. To begin quantifying these effects, a road bike was equipped with a triaxial accelerometer and ridden over poor roadway conditions around an industrial park in Southern California. Next, in a laboratory setting, an artificial pothole was constructed that was 12 inches long and either 1 or 1.65 inches deep. A force plate was placed at the far edge to measure the horizontal loads induced by the bicycle tire riding over the edge and high-speed camera was positioned perpendicular to the path of travel to measure the speed and vertical drop of the front wheel. Lastly, two riders of differing weights rode the same road bicycle over the artificial pothole at target speeds of 8, 10, and 12 mph. As anticipated, vertical wheel drop and impulse duration were inversely correlated to speed, and peak horizontal force was strongly correlated with vertical wheel drop, which resulted in an inverse correlation between peak force and speed for tests in which the wheel did not contact the bottom of the pothole. The data was then used to validate analytical functions derived to calculate vertical drop, impulse, and peak force from horizontal speed, pothole geometry, and bicycle-rider characteristics. This study lays the foundation for additional testing with varied conditions (more riders, different pothole geometries, wider tires, etc.) to expand the analytical model to apply to a more general set of conditions.
Implementation of a Driver-in-the-Loop Methodology for Virtual Development of Semi-Active Dampers
Authors: Rasal Shraddhesh , Asthana Shivam , Vellandi Vikraman , Arconada Verónica Santos , Tosolin Guido
Published: April 2024

In today’s rapidly evolving automotive world, reduction of time to market has prime importance for a new product development. It is critical to have significant front-loading of the development activities to reduce development time while achieving best in class performance targets. Driver-in-the-loop (DIL) simulators have shown significant potential for achieving it, through real time subjective feedback at preliminary stages of the vehicle development. Recent advances in technology of driving simulators have enabled quite accurate representation steering and handling performance, also good prediction on primary ride and low frequency vibrations.

In conventional damper development, the definition of the initial dampers tuning specifications typically requires a mule vehicle, or atleast, a comparable vehicle. However, this approach is associated with protracted iterations that consume substantial time and cost. This becomes even more critical when introducing new damper technology on all new vehicle platform. The proposed virtual development approach using a DIL simulator allows early selection of semiactive valve family and damping forces envelope before physical prototype build.

In current development firstly, AMESim based mathematical models of the semi-active dampers were integrated in the full vehicle model running on the driving simulator. A real-time control on damper hydraulic model was established through control logic functions based on virtual sensors feedback integrated into vehicle model. Secondly, virtual tuning loops were conducted where-in expert drivers were able to identify the most suitable semi-active valve and passive damper hardware combination, based on evaluations conducted on several driving scenarios. The controller logic functions, and the pro-active control function parameters were optimized to set-up baseline and tuning direction for physical development.

As consequence, the virtual ridework made it possible to set early development directions in terms of desired damping force ranges, valve architecture family and control logic configuration. The virtual tuning loops allowed to significantly reduce the tuning activity compared to the physical sessions. Furthermore, due to availability of fundamental semi-damper setup, provided strong baseline for physical development further expediting it.
Experimental Comparison of Different Cycle-Based Methodologies for the INDICATING in Hydrogen-Fueled Internal Combustion Engines
Authors: Azeem Naqash , Beatrice Carlo , Vassallo Alberto , Gessaroli Davide , Pesce Francesco , Golisano Roberto , Sacco Nicola
Published: April 2024

High cycle-to-cycle variations (CTCV) in a Hydrogen-Fueled Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE), especially in the lean-burn condition, not only lower the engine’s efficiency but also increase emissions and torque variations. High CTCV are mainly due to the variations in: mixture motion within the cylinder at the time of spark, amount of air and fuel fed to the cylinder, and mixing of the fresh mixture and residual gases within the cylinder during each cycle. In this article, multiple cycle-based methodologies were compared and analyzed specifically for H2-ICEs based on systematic experimentation. The experimental test campaign was performed on a Port Fuel Injection (PFI) H2-ICE designed by PUNCH Torino and data is processed with MATLAB. A MATLAB code is also proposed as a tool for comparing multiple methodologies for the analysis of CTCV specifically for H2-ICE. In order to compare different methodologies, the operating conditions of the H2-ICE were kept constant for all the results except the Matekunas plot. In this study, various pressure-related parameters such as Peak Firing Pressure (PFP), maximum rate of pressure rise, crank angle at which maximum pressure occurs, crank angle at which maximum rate of pressure occurs, and Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP), as well as burn-rate related parameters like apparent heat release, heat loss to the walls, total heat release, mass burning rate were plotted and interpreted. Matekunas plots have the potential to depict cyclic variations as these plots show the variations of magnitude in pmax and θpmax for each cycle in terms of varying the burning rate and crank angle at which combustion effectively starts (e.g., θ at MFB1). This study aims to provide engineers and researchers practical insights to improve the performance of H2-ICE through methodologies for accurate INDICATING analysis, by analyzing cyclic variations and providing tools for their understanding.
Automotive Validation Using Python to Control Test Equipment and Automate Test Cases
Authors: Rosiewicz Brandon , Link Bravin
Published: April 2024

Validation plays a crucial role in any Electronic Development process. This is true in the development of any automotive Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that utilizes the Automotive V process. From Research and Development (R&D) to End of Line (EOL), every automotive module goes through a plethora of Hardware (HW) and Software (SW) testing. This testing is tedious, time consuming, and inefficient. The purpose of this paper is to show a way to streamline validation in any part of the automotive V process using Python as a driving force to automate and control Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) / Model-in-the-loop (MIL) / Software-in-the-loop (SIL) validation. The paper will propose and outline a framework to control test equipment, such as power supplies and oscilloscopes, load boxes, and external HW. The framework includes the ability to control CAN communication signals and messages. A visual Graphical User Interface (GUI) has also been created to provide simplified operation to the user without knowledge of the backend. This provides a user-friendly display to synchronize multiple SW and HW toolsets together. The proposed methodology creates an efficient automation suite that can be tailored to any type of validation. The GUI provides portability, diversity, and simplicity, which allows for a streamline and efficient process for validation. The paper will refer to user cases to demonstrate the process and setup to perform functionality followed by the conclusion.