Testing

Honeywell, DuPont defend R-1234yf; Ford backs refrigerant studies Daimler's decision to halt use of the new refrigerant on safety concerns leads to a product defense by joint-venture suppliers Honeywell and DuPont, citing SAE studies and their own tests. Although GM is the only U.S. maker with R-1234yf cars, Ford also backs the refrigerant's use. Read full story

E.J. Bowman solution facilitates ethanol fuels testing When trying to simulate vehicle cycles accurately on a test rig, it is essential that the fluid temperatures and warm-up profiles are precisely represented; design of the heat exchanger is critical. Now, ethanol testing makes new demands, but Bowman has a solution. Read full story

A new approach to Li-ion battery modeling The new approach of researchers at Battery Design LLC and CD-adapco avoids the limitations of the standard approach by resolving the structure of the electrode and explicitly modeling the transport of lithium in the electrolyte and solid phases. Read full story

Shortening crash safety testing MESSRING's compact safety test sled system saves floor space. Read full story

Simulation and uncertainty at Caterpillar With a broad product range and competitive pressures, Caterpillar is increasingly relying on CAE simulation to enhance product development. One of its simulation managers is seeing the advent of stochastic simulation to further enhance that development. Read full story

Flow analysis of an air-to-air refueling system 1-D and 3-D virtual prototyping provide an end to the over-engineering of subsystems in the days of cost and time crunching. Read full story

Landing on a new method for conducting strength analysis of ATV body frame Engineers from Suzuki Motor Corp. developed an efficient method for simulating an ATV landing after a jump so that the strength of the frame can be quickly determined at an early design stage. Read full story

Significant upgrades slated for AEDC’s propulsion wind tunnel complex The 4-ft Transonic Wind Tunnel (4T) was recently shut down to undergo a major upgrade, to include a new data system, captive trajectory system (CTS), flex nozzle actuators and controls, roll system, and new diffuser seal flaps. Read full story

Rethinking lead-acid for mild- and micro-hybrids After years in lithium-ion battery development—and fed up over material costs that remain punishingly high—Subash Dhar decided the original automotive battery chemistry still has big potential for hybrid vehicles. Read full story