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Abstract Since the tire inflation pressure has a significant influence on safety, comfort and environmental behavior of a vehicle, the choice of the optimal inflation pressure is always a conflict of aims. The development of a highly dynamic Tire Pressure Control System (TPCS) can reduce the conflict of minimal rolling resistance and maximal traction. To study the influence of the tire inflation pressure on longitudinal tire characteristics under laboratory conditions, an experimental sensitivity analysis is performed using a multivalent usable Corner Module Test Rig (CMTR) developed by the Automotive Engineering Group at Technische Universität Ilmenau. The test rig is designed to analyze suspension system and tire characteristics on a roller of the recently installed 4 chassis roller dynamometer. Camber angle, toe angle and wheel load can be adjusted continuously. In addition, it is possible to control the temperature of the test environment between −20 °C and +45 °C.

Abstract There are already a number of cybersecurity activities introduced in the development process in the automotive industry. For example, security testing of automotive components is often performed at the late stages of development. Fuzz testing is often performed as part of the security testing activity. However, since testing occurs late in the development process, it is expensive and, in some cases, may be too late to fix certain identified issues. Another challenge is that some testing requires hardware that is costly and may not be available until late in the development. We suggest fuzz testing virtual ECUs, which overcomes these challenges and allows for more efficient and effective security testing.

Abstract In this article, a new road load simulation technology is presented for commercial vehicle driveline. In order to assess the performance of vehicle driveline, the chassis dynamometer system is introduced on the basis of the traditional vehicle driveline test bench, which improves the accuracy of the simulation system without the need of complex modeling of commercial vehicle tire dynamics. The vertical load of the vehicle is emulated by the hydraulic loading mechanism, and the influence of the vertical load on commercial vehicle driveline is emulated when the vehicle passes the bumpy road. The evaluate control method of commercial vehicle acceleration inertia based on wheel rotational speed and vehicle dynamics model is designed.

Abstract When the vehicle is under braking condition in the longitudinal motion, the vehicle body will tilt due to the inertial force in motion. A high amplitude will result in uncomfortable feelings of the occupant, such as nervousness or dizziness. To solve the problem, this article presents an adaptive damping system (ADS), which combines the vehicle anti-pitch compensation control with the mixed skyhook (SH) and acceleration-driven-damper (ADD) control algorithm. This ADS can not only improve the vibration effect of the vertical motion for the vehicle but also consider the longitudinal motion of the vehicle body. In addition, a new damper mechanical hardware-in-the-loop test bench is built to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm.

Abstract Accelerated durability testing of automotive components has become a major interest for the ground vehicle Industries. This approach can predict the life characteristics of the vehicle by testing fatigue failure at higher stress level within a shorter period of time. Current tradition of laboratory testing includes a rigid fixture to mount the component with the shaker table. This approach is not accurate for the durability testing of most vehicle components especially for those parts connected directly with the tire and suspension system. In this work, the effects of the elastic support on modal parameters of the tested structure, such as natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes, as well as the estimated structural fatigue life in the durability testing were studied through experimental testing and numerical simulations.

Abstract HVAC systems of passenger cars and especially their air purification performance got more and more in focus during the last years. One reason is the overall increased attention to air quality and its effect on human health. Recently, the WHO further tightened the recommended values for many pollutants. This will likely intensify the trend to more complex systems for improving the air purification functionalities. But, up to now there is no standard method for air purification performance testing. Existing standards cover the vehicle cabin air quality only regarding material emissions. Several studies address assessing the performance of air purification functionalities in most cases by real driving tests typically performed in urban areas. This approach results in proper values for the basic efficiency of single systems.

Abstract Squeak and rattle (S&R) are nonstationary annoying sounds inside the car cabin that impose high warranty costs on car manufacturers. The need for taking S&R preventing measures and the maturity level and cost considerations of the physical prototypes during the predesign-freeze stages justifies the use of virtual simulation methods. Squeak is a friction-induced high-frequency sound that is attributed to the stick-slip friction phenomenon. The importance of the friction parameters in the squeak severity prognosis is analytically and experimentally mentioned in the literature. However, studying the variation of these parameters, as regards the changes in loading and driving conditions, with the aim of application in virtual simulations has remained limited or too simplistic. In this work, the rate weakening effect of the friction coefficient curve was involved in the nonlinear finite element (FE) simulation of stick-slip events by an exponential decay formulation.

Abstract During vehicle development process, it is required to estimate potential thermal risk to vehicle components. Several authors have addressed this topic in earlier studies [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. For evaluation of potential thermal issues, it is desired to estimate the component temperature profile for a given duty cycle. Therefore, the temperature and exposure time at each temperature have to be estimated for each vehicle duty cycle. The duty cycle represents the customer usage of the vehicle for a variety of vehicle speeds and loadings. In this article, we focus on thermal simulation of rotating components such as prop shaft, drive shaft, and half shaft boots. Though these components temperatures can be measured in drive cell or road trips, the instrumentation is usually a complicated task. Most existing temperature sensors do not satisfy the needs because they either require physical contact or cannot withstand high-temperature environment in the vehicle underhood or underbody.

Abstract Understanding the behavior of the contact patch can help to identify various parameters like pressure distribution, contact patch dimension, and tire forces, which play a crucial role in vehicle handling performance. In current work, the Stereo-Digital Image Correlation (DIC) application in measuring the contact patch dimension in the static and dynamic condition of standing or rolling tire is developed. Under the static measurement of a standing tire, Stereo DIC is used to plot the three-dimensional (3D) view of the contact patch aiming to extract contact patch dimension information. Under the dynamic condition of a rolling tire, tire carcass deflection in the radial direction can help to obtain contact patch dimensions using curvature information as presented. Also, a novel method to measure the contact patch dimension is proposed. The technique uses a white strip pasted onto the drum of the tire test rig available.

Abstract In the design of vehicle components, the high dependence and connectivity among the vehicle systems make it necessary to continuously share information about their design status and their effect on the complete vehicle performance. This fact means that very early full system evaluations with the participation of all involved stakeholders are a must. Unfortunately, this need is difficult to fulfill as different development paces exist and not all the designs are available at the same moment and with the same maturity level. This is also the case for the availability of prototypes. In the present article, we introduce a distributed simulation and testing environment capable of linking information among virtual and physical components (e.g., test benches for prototypes and first parts) as a design tool perfectly embedded inside the model-based design methodology.

Abstract The appearance of an automobile is anything but unimportant for the owner. This applies to the acquisition as well as the keeping. In this context, the avoidance of corrosion is a fundamental part of the user’s satisfaction of a company. The body design can be modified to optimize drainage and reduce the risk of corrosion, improving the owner’s satisfaction with the purchase of the automobile. During the proof of concept of water management, as part of the process of development, physical prototypes are state of the art. At this point in the development process, every necessary change is expensive and time consuming. Virtual methods are able to support the development in earlier steps and thus reduce costs. The conventional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods could not handle the simulation of a full car in the rain or water passage properly due to much higher computation efforts and deviations from the experiments.

Abstract Road test is hitherto the most common approach to assess vehicle durability and structural performance. Moreover, the measurements serve as the final validation of the road load simulation, which is currently widely used in vehicle development cycles. The virtual simulation requires digitized road surfaces, a suitable tire model, and suspension model. The whole procedure is time consuming for outdoor measurements and costly to automotive OEMs for road modeling, tire model parametrization, and the like. However, the respective error from each subsystem model keep uncertain during the whole vehicle simulation. Meanwhile, quantitative evaluation of the simulation quality is always tough to conduct due to variability of measurements and limited test configurations. To overcome such challenges, a new approach with higher operational feasibility for the acquisition of durability loads at wheel rim was proposed.

Abstract Exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) gas can cause health risks for users of recreational boats and watercraft. Activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and wakesurfing primarily utilize gasoline engine-driven vessels which produce CO as a combustion by-product. Recent watersports trends show an increase in popularity of activities which take place closer to the stern of the boat (such as wakesurfing) as compared to traditional waterskiing and wakeboarding. Advancements in gas emissions treatment in marine engine exhaust system designs have reduced risks for CO exposure in some boats. This article presents results from on-water testing of three recreational boats, reports average and maximum values of CO levels under various conditions, and exhibits mapping of the density of CO relative to the stern of the test vessels.

Abstract Catalytic converters have been effectively controlling the harmful exhaust gases to meet stringent emission norms. This article presents a new three-way catalyst developed using natural zeolite for effective emission reduction. The step-by-step preparation of the material for the developed catalyst is followed by its characterization using an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The testing performed on a synthetic gas test bench (SGTB) shows substantial carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and nitric oxide (NO) reduction. Results show a 100% conversion for NO above 280°C, 54.8% for CO at 315°C, and 52% for HC at 500°C. The developed natural zeolite-based catalyst stands out from among current catalysts and can be endorsed for three-way conversions than the synthetic zeolite catalyst.

Abstract A novel method of measuring the thickness of deposits on engine pistons, including within ring grooves, is described. A laser profilometer is used in conjunction with a rotary stage to measure a continuous profile of the piston with deposits, and the measurement is repeated after cleaning the deposits from the piston. Algorithms for aligning the scans and determining the differential thickness are described, and results are compared to deposit thickness measurements using a contact-type magnetic induction coating thickness gauge. This method allows continuous measurement of deposit thickness across the entire surface including lands and ring grooves as well as quantification of the volume of the deposits.

Abstract In the field of thermal protection, detailed three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D-CFD) simulations are widely used to analyze the thermal behavior on a full vehicle level. One target is to identify potential violations of component temperature limits at an early stage of the development process. In battery electric vehicles (BEVs), transient load cases play an increasing role in evaluating components and vehicle systems close to real-world vehicle operation. The state-of-the-art 3D simulation methodologies require significant time and computational effort when running transient load scenarios. One main reason is the conjugate characteristic of the problem, meaning that conduction within the component and convection into the surrounding air occur simultaneously. This requires a detailed consideration of both the fluid and structural domains.

Abstract The aim of this work is to present the results achieved in the evaluation of combustion metrics using low-cost sensors for the indirect measurement of cylinder pressure. The developed transducers are piezoelectric rings placed under the spark plugs. Tests were carried out on three different engines running in various speed and load conditions. The article shows the characteristics of the signals generated by the piezo-ring sensors, compared to those coming from laboratory-grade pressure transducers: focus is to assess the achievable accuracy in the determination of frequently used combustion metrics, such as those related to knock intensity (Maximum Amplitude of Pressure Oscillations, MAPO), combustion phasing (MFB10, MFB50, …), and peak pressure.

Abstract The input of combustion heat in engines has a major impact on the piston friction and the resulting wear of the piston skirt. The new methodology presented here enables the simulation of combustion heat input during motored operation, and thus a detailed investigation of the piston friction under realistic piston temperature profiles of real engine operation is possible. For this purpose a standardized engine test bench for motored friction evaluations was expanded to include, among other things, a movable high-power diode laser with special defocusing optics. The setup of the test engine is based on the FEV teardown step methodology [1] and has open access to the engine piston from above due to a cylinder head dummy. Thus, the heat input by means of a high-power diode laser into the piston crown can be made. The reduced engine structure also enables a precise and highly accurate evaluation of the piston friction.

Abstract Accurate exhaust gas temperature (EGT) measurements are vital in the design and development process of internal combustion engines (ICEs). The unsteady ICE exhaust flow and thermal inertia of commonly used sheathed thermocouples and resistance thermometers require high bandwidth EGT pulse measurements for accurate cycle-resolved and mean EGTs. The EGT pulse measurement challenge is typically addressed using exposed thin-wire resistance thermometers or thermocouples. The sensor robustness to response tradeoff limits ICE tests to short durations over a few exhaust conditions. Larger diameter multiwire thermocouples using response compensation potentially overcomes the tradeoff. However, the literature commonly adopts weaker slack wire designs despite indications of coated weld taut wires being robust.

Abstract Intelligent tires, as an emerging technology, have great potential for tire-road contact information identification and new vehicle active safety system design. In this article, a tire-road friction coefficient estimation method is proposed based on intelligent tires application with three-axis accelerometer. At first, a finite element tire model with an accelerometer is established using ABAQUS platform. Accelerometer body frame transformation is considered during the tire rotation. Subsequently, the contact patch length is determined according to the peak of the longitudinal acceleration profile. Meanwhile, tire lateral deflection is calculated from the tire lateral acceleration. By curve fitting the lateral deflection model with least square method, tire lateral force and the aligning moment are derived and then the friction coefficient is estimated via brush model.