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Shell Elements based Parametric Frame Modeling is a powerful CAE tool, which can generate robust frame design concept optimized for NVH and durability quickly when combined with Taguchi Design of Experiments. The scalability of this modeling method includes cross members length/location/section/shape, frame rail segments length/section and kick in/out/up/down angle, and access hole location & size. In the example of the D. O. E. study, more than fifteen parameters were identified and analyzed for frequency and weight. The upper and lower bounds were set for each design parameter based on package and manufacturing constraints. Sixteen Finite Element frame were generated by parametrically updating the base model, which shows this modeling method is comparatively convenient. Sensitivity of these sixteen parameters to the frequency and weight was summarized through statics, so the favorable design alternative can be achieved with the major parameters' combination.

Described in this paper is a component test methodology to evaluate the door trim armrest performance in an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) side impact test and to predict the SID-IIs abdomen injury metrics (rib deflection, deflection rate and V*C). The test methodology consisted of a sub-assembly of two SID-IIs abdomen ribs with spine box, mounted on a linear bearing and allowed to translate in the direction of impact. The spine box with the assembly of two abdominal ribs was rigidly attached to the sliding test fixture, and is stationary at the start of the test. The door trim armrest was mounted on the impactor, which was prescribed the door velocity profile obtained from full-vehicle test. The location and orientation of the armrest relative to the dummy abdomen ribs was maintained the same as in the full-vehicle test.

The short NiTi fiber-reinforced NiTi/Al6061-SiC composite was recently developed through the U.S. Army SBIR Phase-II program [1]. The objectives of this project are to use short NiTi fiber reinforcement to induce compressive stress through shape memory effect, to use silicon carbide (SiC) particulate reinforcement to enhance the mechanical properties of the aluminum matrix, to gain fundamental knowledge of short NiTi fiber-reinforced aluminum matrix composite, and eventually to improve fatigue resistance, impact damage tolerance and fracture toughness of the composite. The fatigue life, damage and fracture behavior of TiNi/Al6061-SiC, TiNi/Al6061, Al6061-SiC composites as well as monolithic Al6061 alloy were investigated under fully reversed cyclic loading. It was found that fatigue life of NiTi/Al6061-SiC composite, in term of the cycles, increased by two orders of magnitude, compared to monolithic Al6061 alloy

A general numerical method, the so-called Fourier Spectral Element Method (FSEM), is described for the dynamic analysis of complex systems such as car body structures. In this method, a complex dynamic system is viewed as an assembly of a number of fundamental structural components such as beams, plates, and shells. Over each structural component, the basic solution variables (typically, the displacements) are sought as a continuous function in the form of an improved Fourier series expansion which is mathematically guaranteed to converge absolutely and uniformly over the solution domain of interest. Accordingly, the Fourier coefficients are considered as the generalized coordinates and determined using the powerful Rayleigh-Ritz method. Since this method does not involve any assumption or an introduction of any artificial model parameters, it is broadly applicable to the whole frequency range which is usually divided into low, mid, and high frequency regions.

A new friction testing system has been designed and built to simulate the actual engine conditions in friction and wear test of piston-ring and cylinder liner assembly. Experimental data has been developed as Friction Coefficient / Crank Angle Degree diagrams including the effects of running speed (500 and 700 rpm) and ring normal load. Surface roughness profilocorder traces were obtained for tested samples. Mixed lubrication regime observed in the most part of the test range. New cylinder bore materials and lubricants can be screened easily and more reliable simulated engine friction data can be collected using this technique.

Automobile disk brake squeal has always been one of the major customer complaints because of its extremely unpleasant, very high pitch and intense sound. Currently, diagnostics of vehicle brake squeals are conducted using a scanning laser vibrometer synchronized with squeals. This process is time consuming, especially when there is a hard-to-reach area for a laser beam to shine or when squeals have multiple frequencies for which filtering must be used so that individual out-of-plane vibration modes can be obtained. In this paper, a different method known as Helmholtz equation least squares (HELS) method based nearfield acoustical holography (NAH) is used to reconstruct all acoustic quantities, including the acoustic pressure, normal components of the surface velocity and acoustic intensity. In particular, the locations from which squeal is originated are identified and the out-of-plane vibration modes that are responsible for squeal sounds are established.

Experiments have revealed that the brain of the experimental animal behaves elastically in response to dynamic forces in situ. The response of the skull of the human cadaver has been investigated by means of static load-deflection tests and impact and mechanical impedance tests. This information has been used to construct a two-dimensional head model consisting of a polyester resin shell reinforced with fiberglas with plexiglass sides; a clear silicone gel brain; and spinal cord simulated by a plexiglass tube containing silicone gel supported by a piston-spring assembly. Several frames taken from motion pictures recorded at 7,000 frames/sec. show how pressure gradients in the model are displayed by observing the growth and location of bubbles during impact.