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Electric drives, whether in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or various other applications, are an important part of modern transportation. Traditionally, physics-based models based on steady-state mapping of electric drives have been used to evaluate their behavior under transient conditions. Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing seeks to provide a more accurate representation of a component’s behavior under transient load conditions that are more representative of real world conditions it will operate under, without requiring a full vehicle installation. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed such a HIL test platform capable of subjecting electric drives to both conventional steady-state test procedures as well as transient experiments such as vehicle drive cycles.

A methodology for developing modal vehicle emissions and fuel consumption models is described. These models, in the form of look-up tables for fuel consumption and emissions as functions of vehicle speed and acceleration, are designed for simulations such as the Federal Highway Administration's TRAF-series of models. These traffic models are used to evaluate the impacts of roadway design on emissions and fuel consumption. Vehicles are tested on-road and on a chassis dynamometer to characterize the entire operating range of each vehicle. As a verification exercise the models were used to predict cycle emissions and fuel consumption, and the results were compared to certification-type tests on a different population of vehicles. Results of the verification exercise show that the developed models can generally predict cycle emissions and fuel consumption with error comparable to the variability of repeat dynamometer tests.

A boundary condition treatment to enable the simulation of full-scale class 8 trucks with realistic treatment of the relative velocities between truck, wheel assembly and the road is presented. The rotating wheel boundary condition is validated using data from isolated wheel and wheel assembly experiments. Validations of the base flow solver in steady and unsteady modes are performed using wind-tunnel experiments with the Generic Conventional Model (GCM). Results from full-scale truck simulations with rotating wheels and a moving ground plane are summarized.

AFR, Inc. is developing a multifunctional Carbon material that, in addition to excellent radiation shielding characteristics, is appropriate for certain energy storage applications. As an excellent Hydrogen gas sorbent, it increases the usable storage capacity of a gas cylinder by ∼25% at 3500 PSI and by ∼150% at 500 PSI. Our ongoing NASA Langley funded study shows that when a sorbent-filled tank is charged with hydrogen, it provides shielding superior to polyethylene against most types of ionizing particles. Even as hydrogen is consumed, the carbon and tank ensure that significant radiation shielding capability is maintained. In addition to storing hydrogen, the carbon material also displays considerable strength. In this paper, we explore some of its mechanical properties that show this material is very versatile and highly multifunctional.

Lunar dust exposures occurred during the Apollo missions while the crew was in the lunar module on the moon's surface and especially when micro-gravity conditions were attained during rendezvous in lunar orbit. Crews reported that the dust was irritating to the eyes, and in some cases, respiratory symptoms were elicited. NASA's current vision for lunar exploration includes stays of 6 months on the lunar surface hence the health effects of periodic exposure to lunar dust in the habitat need to be assessed. NASA is performing this assessment with a series of in vitro and in vivo tests with authentic lunar dust. Our approach is to “calibrate” the intrinsic toxicity of lunar dust by comparison to a relatively low toxicity dust (TiO2) and a highly toxic dust (quartz) using intrapharyngeal instillation of the dusts to mice. A battery of indices of toxicity is assessed at various time points after the instillations.

The addition of metal nanoparticles to standard coolant fluids dramatically increases the thermal conductivity of the liquid. The properties of the prepared nanofluids will allow for lighter, smaller, and higher efficiency spacecraft thermal control systems to be developed. Nanofluids with spherical or rod-shaped metal nanoparticles were investigated. At a volume concentration of 0.5%, the room temperature thermal conductivity of a 2 nm spherical gold nanoparticle-water solution was increased by more than 10% over water alone. Silver nanorods increased the thermal conductivity of ethylene glycol by 53% and water by 26%.

The dynamic performance of a multi-wheeled combat vehicle developed in a multi-body dynamics code initially on the basis of design information was compared, calibrated and validated in a systematic three-stage process against measured data obtained on US Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) test courses. In the comparison stage the model was refined using insights gained from the live vehicle tests. At that point, the model was adjusted or calibrated using optimization software. The process of optimization required judicious choice of performance parameters suited to the particular test event referencing a test course or maneuver. As an example, the vehicle roll, pitch and yaw rates were used to characterize the vehicle for the J-turns, whereas statistical moments of the vertical acceleration were selected to describe the vehicle performance on the 6-inch Washboard.

In the context of off-road vehicle simulations, deformable terrain models mostly fall into three categories: simple visualization of the deformed terrain only, use of empirical relationships for the deformation, or finite/discrete element approaches for the terrain. A real-time vehicle dynamics simulation with a physics-based tire model (brush, ring or beam-based models) requires a terrain model that accurately reflects the deformation and response of the soil to all possible inputs of the tire in order to correctly simulate the response of the vehicle. The real-time requirement makes complex finite/discrete element approaches unfeasible, and the use of a ring or beam -based tire model excludes purely empirical terrain models. We present the development of a three-dimensional vehicle/terrain interaction model which is comprised of a tire and deformable terrain model to be used with a real-time vehicle dynamics simulator.

Composite materials have the potential to reduce the overall cost and weight of automotive structures with the added benefit of being able to dissipate large amounts of impact energy by progressive crushing. To identify and quantify the energy absorbing mechanisms in composite materials, test methodologies were developed for conducting progressive crush tests on composite specimens that have simplified test geometries. The test method development focused on isolating the damage modes associated with the frond formation that occurs in dynamic testing of composite tubes. A new test fixture was designed to progressively crush composite plate specimens under quasi-static test conditions. Preliminary results are presented under a sufficient set of test conditions to validate the operation of the test fixture.

Typical calculations of radiation exposures in space approximate the composition of the human body by a single material, typically Aluminum or water. A further approximation is made with regard to body size by using a single anatomical model to represent people of all sizes. A comparison of calculations of organ dose and dose-equivalent is presented. Calculations are first performed approximating body materials by water equivalent thickness', and then using a more accurate representation of materials present in the body. In each case of material representation, a further comparison is presented of calculations performed modeling people of different sizes.

Approximately 200 to 210 million gallons (or about 2 billion pounds) of antifreeze or engine coolant are produced in North America each year. About 80 percent of this is sold to refill leaking cooling systems. This paper compares the environmental impact of additives in leaking and improperly disposed coolant to other sources of these same chemicals.

We describe a method for detecting and quantifying time irreversibility in experimental engine data. We apply this method to experimental heat-release measurements from four spark-ignited engines under leaning fueling conditions. We demonstrate that the observed behavior is inconsistent with a linear Gaussian random process and is more appropriately described as a noisy nonlinear dynamical process.

Currently, the interest in using alternative clean types of fuels has been extensively increased all over the world because of the global approach in reducing engine emissions and creating new sources of fuel for internal combustion engines. The hydrogen-methane blend is one of the alternative fuels which includes the benefits of both of the fuels compared to the traditional petrol/gasoline fuel. This paper addresses a two-zone quasi-dimensional model to investigate the performance of an SI engine which uses a mixture of methane and hydrogen. In this model, gases inside the cylinder are divided into two regions: burned and the unburned. The chemical reactions are supposed to be in equilibrium in each zone, but the extended Zedlovich mechanism is utilized to determine the amount of the NOx available in the exhaust gas. Also, CO concentration is determined by two steps kinematic reactions. The flame front is assumed to be a surface with no thickness in adiabatic flame temperature.

For the EcoCAR 2 collegiate engineering competition, The University of Tennessee is modifying a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco from a mild hybrid into a series-parallel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. For this design, the team is exchanging the engine for one that is E85 compatible, slightly separating the engine and transmission, and coupling an electric generator to the engine. In the rear of the vehicle, a modified all-wheel drive subframe will be implemented. This subframe will house a traction motor and a single gear electric drive transmission. A custom fuel tank and fuel system will be constructed for the vehicle, in order to use E85 fuel. Furthermore, an energy storage system will be placed in the rear of the vehicle, in the trunk and spare tire space. Modifications for the packaging must be made and analysis must be performed to validate the structural integrity of all modifications.

With increasingly stringent regulations mandating the improvement of vehicle fuel economy, automotive manufacturers face growing pressure to develop and implement technologies that improve overall system efficiency. One such technology is an automatic (auto) stop-start feature. Auto stop-start reduces idle time and reduces fuel use by temporarily shutting the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop and automatically re-starting it when the brake is released, or the accelerator is pressed. As mandated by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to keep the public informed about fuel saving practices. This is done, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the fueleconomy.gov website. The “Fuel-Saving Technologies” and “Gas Mileage Tips” sections of the website are focused on helping the public make informed purchasing decisions and encouraging fuel-saving driving habits.