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Towards the effort of reducing pollutant emissions, especially soot and nitrogen oxides, from direct injection Diesel engines, engineers have proposed various solutions, one of which is the use of a gaseous fuel as a partial supplement for liquid Diesel fuel. These engines are known as dual fuel combustion engines. A dual fuel (Diesel-CNG) engine is a base diesel engine fitted with a dual fuel conversion kit to enable use of clean burning alternative fuel like compressed natural gas. In this engine diesel and natural gas are burned simultaneously. Natural gas is fed into the cylinder along with intake air; the amount of diesel injection is reduced accordingly. Dual fuel engines have number of potential advantages like fuel flexibility, higher compression ratio, and better efficiency and less modifications on existing diesel engines. It is an ecological friendly technology due to lower PM and smoke emissions and retains the efficiency of diesel combustion.

The evolution of engine technology has so far seen the most beneficial side of progress in the fields of transportation, agriculture, and mobility. With the advent of innovation, there is also an impact on our environment that needs to be balanced. This is where fuels like CNG, LPG, LNG, etc. outperform conventional fossil fuels in terms of pollution & operational cost. This paper enlightens on the use of innovative dual-fuel technology where diesel & CNG fuels are used for combustion simultaneously inside the combustion chamber. Dual fuel system adaptation for farm application ensures self-reliance of the farmer where he can generate Bio-CNG to use the renewable fuel for farming making him less dependent on conventional fossil fuel thus promoting a green economy. The dual-fuel system is adapted to the existing in-use diesel engine with minimum modifications. This makes it feasible to retrofit a CNG fuel system on an existing diesel engine to operate it on dual fuel mode.

Ride is considered to be one of the crucial criterion for evaluating the performance of a vehicle. Automobile industry is striving for improvement in designs to provide superior passenger comfort in Commercial vehicles segment. In Industry, Quarter-car model has been used for years to study the vehicle’s ride dynamics. But due to lower DOF involved in quarter car, the output accuracy is somewhat compromised. This paper aims in development of a 7 DOF full-car Model to perform the ride- comfort analysis for Light Duty 4*2 Commercial Bus using MATLAB Simulink which can be used to tune the suspension design to meet the required ride-comfort criteria. Firstly, experimental data and Physical Parameters are collected by performing Practical Test on commercial Bus on different road profiles. Secondly, a Full Car Mathematical Model with 7 DOF has been developed for a bus using MATLAB Simulink R2018a.

CNG has proven to be a concrete alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel for sustained mobility. Due to stringent emission norms and sanctions being imposed on diesel fuel vehicles, OEMs have shifted their attention towards natural gas as an efficient and green fuel. Newly implemented BS VI emission norms in India have stressed on the reduction of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) from the exhaust by almost 85% as compared to BS IV emission norms. Also, Indian Automotive market is fuel economy cautious. This challenges to focus on improving fuel economy but without increase in NOx emissions. Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) has the potential to reduce the NOx emissions by decreasing the in-cylinder temperature. The objective of the paper is to model a CNG TCIC engine using 1D simulation in order to optimize the NOx emissions and maintain exhaust temperatures under failsafe limits.

Particulate matter is one of the major pollutant responsible for deteriorating air quality, particularly in urban centers. Information on contributing sources with the share from different sources is a first and one of the important steps in controlling pollution. Diverse sources, anthropogenic as well as natural, like industries, transport, domestic burning, construction, wind-blown dust, road dust contribute to particulate matter pollution. Receptor modeling is a scientific method which is utilized for assessment of the contribution of various sources based on chemical characteristics of particulate matter sources and ambient air particulate matter. Representative data of fractions of various chemical species in the particulate matter from the different sources i.e. source fingerprint is an essential input for the receptor modeling approach.

This paper discusses the test setup and methodology required to validate complete lift axle assembly for simulating the real time test track data. The correlation of rig vs track is discussed. The approach for reduction of validation time by eliminating few of the non-damaging tracks/events, its correlation with real life condition is discussed, and details are presented. With increased competition, vehicle development time has reduced drastically in recent past. Bench test procedure using accelerated test cycle discussed in this paper will help to reduce development time and cost. Process briefed in this paper can also be used for similar test specification for other structural parts or complete suspension system of heavy commercial vehicles.

To enhance the crashworthiness of electric vehicles, designing the optimized and safer battery pack is very essential. The deformed battery cell can result in catastrophic events like thermal runaway and thus it becomes crucial to study the mechanical response of battery cell. The goal of the research is to experimentally investigate the effect of mechanical deformation on Lithium-ion battery cell. The paper thoroughly studies the phenomenon of short circuiting at the time of failure. Various experiments are carried on 18650 cylindrical cells (NCA chemistry) under custom designed fume hood. The setup captures the failure modes of battery cell. The loading conditions have been designed considering the very possible physical conditions during crash event. The study has been done for radial compression, semicircular indentation, hemispherical indentation, flat circular indentation and case of three-point bending.

Design of real time active controls for structural dynamics problems requires a very precise mathematical model, to closely determine the system dynamic behavior, under virtual simulation. The finite element models can somehow be used as a mathematical model but due to complex shape/structure of the component, the size of discrete models resulting from finite element analysis is usually very large, causing the virtual simulation to be extremely computationally intensive and time consuming, also the boundary conditions applied are not very scalable, making the system deviate from its real dynamic behavior. Thus, this paper deals with the design of a Model Order Reduction technique, using orthogonal decomposition of system matrices, which can be used for creating accurate low-order dynamic model with scalable boundary conditions.

Today, reducing the vehicle development time is a very crucial task. In the early development stages, the limited time and few vehicle prototypes are available for validation. In such scenarios, durability validation of different design iterations of critical components like engine mounts, with respect to the real road usage is a challenge. Road simulation testing in a laboratory is a reliable approach to fatigue and durability tests for the evaluation of platforms, components and subassemblies. Durability evaluation of engine mount is, generally, performed either at assembly level, using multi-axial road simulation approach or at component level, using uniaxial sinusoidal load testing. The new testing approach here allows testing of engine mounts at component level using road simulation approach by applying multi-axial loads or deflections as per the real road usage conditions.

Electric Vehicles (EVs), with its inherent advantage of zero tailpipe emissions, are gaining importance because of aggressive push from government not only to reduce air pollution but also to reduce dependency of fossil fuel. EVs and necessary charging infrastructure along with ‘connected’ technology is redefining mobility. Considering the fast growing EV market, it becomes important for an EV Powertrain Architect to design and develop a powertrain solution having low engineering efforts and satisfying business, market and regulatory requirements at a competitive price. This paper presents a compact, flexible, convenient and smart featured simulation tool for an EV Powertrain Architect for estimating the specifications of key powertrain components such as traction battery and electric motor. The proposed tool takes into consideration the end-user as well as the regulatory requirements of range, maximum speed, acceleration and gradeability.

CNG has recently seen increased penetration within the automotive industry. Due to recent sanctions on diesel fuelled vehicles, manufactures have again shifted their attention to natural gas as a suitable alternative. Turbocharging of SI engines has seen widespread application due to its benefit in terms of engine downsizing and increasing engine performance [1]. This paper discusses the methodology involved in development of a multi cylinder turbocharged natural gas engine from an existing diesel engine. Various parameters such as valve timing, intake volume, runner length, etc. were studied using 1D simulation tool GT power and based on their results an optimized configuration was selected and a proto engine was built. Electronic throttle body was used to give better transient performance and emission control. Turbocharger selection and its location plays a critical role.

Passive safety regulations specify minimum safety performance requirements of vehicle in terms of protecting its occupants and other road users in accident scenarios. Currently for majority cases, the compliance of vehicle design to passive safety regulations is assessed through physical testing. With increased number of products and more comprehensive passive safety requirements, the complexity of certification is getting challenged due to high cost involved in prototype parts and the market pressures for early product introduction through reduced product development timelines. One of the ways for addressing this challenge is to promote CAE based certification of vehicle designs for regulatory compliance. Since accuracy of CAE predictions have improved over a period of time, such an approach is accepted for few regulations like ECE-R 66/01, AIS069 etc which involves only loadings of the structures.

In this paper the multi-link suspension for an All-Terrain Vehicle is designed, modelled and simulated. The model was produced by defining the position of the hard point or coordinate before specifying the component characters and joint variety, then after for modelling of the multi-link suspension, CATIA 3D modelling approach is used, sequentially the MBD approach is adopted for full suspension model simulation. The same test was conducted for the base model (double wishbone suspension) which was holding same characteristics. The kinematics and compliance of the simulation are matched with the base model simulation data to verify the suspension design and the result from the simulation exposed a validated virtual suspension system model with a pretty minimal rate of error. The result of the simulation shows that the introduced suspension system increases the cornering stiffness and deceases the bump steer along with this it gives the quick cornering and straight-line stability.

An excellent physical and mechanical property makes Aluminium (Al) alloy suitable alternative lightweight materials against steel and cast iron in automotive components. ICME is a computational tool, which integrates the materials information to engineering product performance analysis. MatCalc is ICME tool, which follows the chain rule of process, microstructure, property and performance relationship in materials development. This paper reports the development of Al 6061-T6 propeller shaft through forging process and the materials and process model of the Al yoke is simulated using MatCalc simulation software. Finite element analysis method is used for designing of Al 6061-T6 propeller shaft. The forged Al yoke is solutionized at temperature 550°C for 1 hr followed by artificial ageing at temperature 180°C for 16 hrs to improve the hardness and strength of the yoke.

ADAS and AV technologies are going to disrupt the entire transportation industry, as we know it, with a profound impact on human life. They promise to enhance human lives by providing a safer and much more accessible transportation ecosystem to all of society. However, to deliver on all of its promises, they need to be at least as good as a ‘good’ human driver. Therefore, they need to be very safe and robust, with the ability to perform in a variety of driving scenarios, and be very secure, being immune from any external cyberattacks. Hence, such technologies need to be tested very extensively. However, from various studies, it has been found that, to declare a full AV as good as a human driver, the AV will be required to drive more than a billion miles on real roads, taking tens and sometimes hundreds of years to drive those miles, considering even the most aggressive testing assumptions.

This paper discusses experimental outcome of port fuel injected engines operated on gasoline mode and LPG mode. Eight Passenger car PFI engines were tested by using computerized engine data acquisition and control system on gasoline mode and LPG mode. Objectives of this experimental study were 1) To establish generic performance trend for group of newly introduced gasoline/LPG passenger car bi-fuel engines in Indian market. This trend has been established. 2) To compare performance of one sample engine in gasoline and LPG mode. This performance has been compared from performance characteristics curves in both modes. 3) To establish methodology to compare and contrast the performance of various types of Gasoline/LPG passenger car engines. This methodology has been established for a group of engines. 4) To define new normalized figure of merit suitable for the performance comparison of passenger car engines. A parameter power per unit displacement has been defined.

This paper presents results and discussions of two hundred hours endurance test carried on single cylinder four-stroke cycle LPG cargo pickup van engine. Engine was run in cycle as suggested by manufacturer. Engine was run for one hour at speed corresponding to maximum torque and then it was run for one hour at speed corresponding to maximum power. This cycle was repeated for two hundred hours. Effects of endurance test on components of engine were studied. Engine was tested before endurance test at full throttle position and same engine was tested after endurance test at full throttle position. Performance of engine before and after endurance test has been compared and discussed. Objective of this experimental work was to study effect of endurance test on different components of engine and analyze and compare performance of engine before and after endurance test. Graphs of important engine parameters have been plotted and curve fitting has been done.

In this experimental study four stroke, four cylinder, MPFI, SI engines were tested as per IS 14599. A group of six bifuel engines with different specifications was tested in gasoline mode and LPG mode. Engines were converted by using modification system to operate in LPG mode. Objective of this experimental study was to compare performance and emissions of PFI passenger car engines in gasoline mode and LPG mode and to establish generic performance trend for LPG/Gasoline bifuel engines by defining and computing normalized figure of merit, power per unit displacement. From experimental results, generic performance trend for passenger car engines was established. A unit parameter KW/lit was calculated for each engine for comparison in relation to rated torque, maximum exhaust gas temperature and speeds corresponding to maximum torque and maximum power.

The ever-increasing energy demand is a prime concern of entire world. As gasoline prices soar and concern over harmful emissions mount, vehicles which run on alternate fuel sources like LPG and CNG are becoming increasingly important. In this experimental study single cylinder pickup van engine was tested as per IS 14599 by using LPG and CNG as fuel. Ordinary fuel for vehicle is gasoline. Full throttle performance was tested at different speeds on computerized engine test set up with data acquisition system and AVL eddy current dynamometer. Important performance characteristic curves have been investigated and compared in CNG mode and LPG mode. Curve fitting has been done and equations with regression coefficient have been derived. Statistical analysis for different engine parameters has been done in LPG and CNG mode by using matlab software. It was observed that maximum power and maximum torque in LPG mode was more than that in CNG mode.

This work is a part of program on “Development of High Performance DI, 3 Cylinder CRDI Diesel Engine to meet Euro-IV/V Emission Norms focused on automotive passenger car application purpose. This is a 3 Cylinder, TCIC engine designed for combustion pressure of 160 bar max for first stage which is being upgraded to 200 bar max in the second stage. Cylinder Head design is a part of complicated configuration whose construction and principal dimensions are dependent on the size of inlet and exhaust valves, fuel injectors positioning and mounting, port layout and swirl and shape of combustion chambers. The cylinder head of a direct-injection diesel engine has to perform many functions. It has to bring charge air to the cylinder and exhaust gas from the cylinder, with minimum pumping loss and required swirl and other properties of charge motion.