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In order to meet increasing demands for safety and comfort in a vehicle compartment, automatic adjustment of seat, mirrors, steering wheel has been developed. The multiplex wiring system was constructed for the automatic adjustment of the cockpit elements to drivers preferred positions or to physique-matched settings based on ergonomic data. This paper describes the construction of the multiplex system and functions of automatic adjustment of the cockpit elements for comfortable driving position and better visibility.

Spray motion visualization, mixture strength measurement, flame spectral analyses and flame behavior observation were performed in order to elucidate the mixture preparation and the combustion processes in Mitsubishi GDI engine. The effects of in-cylinder flow called reverse tumble on the charge stratification were clarified. It preserves the mixture inside the spherical piston cavity, and extends the optimum injection timing range. Mixture strength at the spark plug and at the spark timing can be controlled by changing the injection timing. It was concluded that reverse tumble plays a significant role for extending the freedom of mixing. The characteristics of the stratified charge combustion were clarified through the flame radiation analyses. A first flame front with UV luminescence propagates rapidly and covers all over the combustion chamber at the early stage of combustion.

Several different steel sheets were tested for energy absorption, using hat square columns and dynamic crash testing. Results indicate that steel sheets containing large volume fraction of retained austenite have relatively high energy absorption. The relationship between retained austenite and energy absorption was analyzed. These special steel sheets have already been successfully used for production body parts, such a front-side-member, without difficulties arising in volume production.

The transmissive and reflective performance of the glass according to the radiation sources are discussed for the accurate evaluation of the solar radiation through the glass window. They are quite different in radiation sources such as solar radiation from the sun or infrared solar lamps in the experiments because of the spectral properties of both glass and radiation sources. It is also discussed how differences of transmissive and reflective performance of the glass affect thermal comfort of car occupants. A numerical simulation method based on the comprehensive combined analysis with thermoregulation model within a human body, radiation models including thermal radiation and solar radiation, and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) is conducted for this purpose.

This paper describes the method to improve the energy absorption characteristics during the vehicle frontal collision. The method is to control the collapse phases of the members constituting the vehicle body and to increase collapse force of a member. This phase-control can be accomplished by superimposing the crest of the collapse force curve, which one member causes, on the trough of any other members'. The bulkheads installed in the members are useful. to control the phase and to increase the collapse force. Numerical analysis and experiment of a vehicle collision show that the control leads to the improvement of energy absorption characteristics and load transmission efficiency.

Solar energy through glass windows has an influence on the thermal environment in the cabin and thermal comfort of occupants. A medium-size electric vehicle (EV) is conducted for evaluating the performance of solar reduction glass under summer conditions in the climate chamber by experimental measurements. For this purpose, two kinds of glass are attached to the medium-size EV with different performance of solar reduction rate (IR-cut type and normal type). In this paper, two types of experimental measurements, steady state and unsteady state conditions, are conducted. Surface temperature, air temperature and electric consumption of air conditioner are measured under some conditions of air-conditioner. EHT (Equivalent Homogeneous Temperature) by thermal manikin, thermal sensation and thermal comfort by male and female subjects are also measured.