Search Results

To meet increasingly stringent diesel exhaust emissions requirements, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have introduced common rail fuel injection systems that develop pressures of up to 2000 bar (30,000 psi). In addition, fuel delivery schemes have become more complicated, often involving multiple injections per cycle. Containing higher pressures and allowing for precise metering of fuel requires very tight tolerances within the injector. These changes have made injectors more sensitive to fuel particulate contamination. Recently, problems caused by internal diesel injector deposits have been widely reported. In this paper, the results of an investigation into the chemical nature and probable sources of these deposits are discussed. Using an array of techniques, internal deposits were analyzed from on a number of sticking injectors from the field and from OEM test stands in North America.

The rapid increase in the sophistication of vehicle automation demands development of evaluation protocols tuned to understanding driver-automation interaction. Driving simulators provide a safe and cost-efficient tool for studying driver-automation interaction, and this paper outlines general considerations for simulator-based evaluation protocols. Several challenges confront automation evaluation, including the limited utility of standard measures of driver performance (e.g., standard deviation of lane position), and the need to quantify underlying mental processes associated with situation awareness and trust. Implicitly or explicitly vehicle automation encourages drivers to disengage from driving and engage in other activities. Thus secondary tasks play an important role in both creating representative situations for automation use and misuse, as well as providing embedded measures of driver engagement.

North American customer perception of Quality has changed over time and has shifted from Quality, Dependability, and Reliability (QDR) to Interior Sensory Quality (ISQ). ISQ is defined as the harmony of characteristics that combine to make an emotional connection to the vehicles’ interior. Vehicles need to correctly appeal to customers emotional side through providing class-leading ISQ. Hypotheses for specific interior areas were developed in order to identify key ISQ strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. These hypotheses were then tested at customer clinics held across the country. The key goals were to understand customer judgment of ISQ execution, understand customer ISQ priority, and understand customer preference of detailed component areas.

Fuel economy improvement has been one of the most important challenges for the automotive industry, and the oil and additive industries. The automotive, oil, and additive industries including related organizations such as SAE, ASTM, and testing laboratories have made significant efforts to develop not only engine oil technologies but also engine oil standards over decades. The API S category and ILSAC engine oil standard are well known and widely used engine oil specifications [1] [2]. The development of an engine oil standard has important roles to ensure the quality of engine oils in the market and encourage industries to improve the engine oil performance periodically. However, the progress of technology advancement can go faster than the revision of engine oil standard. An introduction of new viscosity grades, SAE 0W-16 and 5W-16 is one good example. The 16 grade was added into the SAE J300 standard that defines viscosity grades for engine oils in April 2013 [3].

The Deep Orange framework is an integral part of the graduate automotive engineering education at Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The initiative was developed to immerse students into the world of an OEM. For the 6th generation of Deep Orange, the goal was to develop an urban utility/activity vehicle for the year 2020. The objective of this paper is to describe the development of a multimaterial lightweight Body-in-White (BiW) structure to support an all-electric powertrain combined with an interior package that maximizes volume to enable a variety of interior configurations and activities for Generation Z users. AutoPacific data were first examined to define personas on the basis of their demographics and psychographics.

A 1/4 scale model vehicle profile has been tested in a wind tunnel with speeds up to 360 km/h. In order to simulate the free field flow over the vehicle, the top surface of the wind tunnel is contoured. A CFD simulation of the free field flow at various speeds is used to identify the desired top streamline. Then the boundary layer growth on the top surface is calculated and the top contour is adjusted accordingly. Since this contour changes very little with flow speeds of interest, an average contour is used for a fixed top surface of the wind tunnel. Pressure drop measurements are used to verify the flow similarity to the CFD model. Wind noise measurements using surface mounted pressure transducer arrays are used to determine the acoustic loads on the vehicle surfaces.

Current state-of-the-art vehicles implement pedestrian protection features that rely on pedestrian detection sensors and algorithms to trigger when impacting a pedestrian. During the development phase, the vehicle must “learn” to discriminate pedestrians from the rest of potential impacting objects. Part of the training data used in this process is often obtained in physical tests utilizing legform impactors whose external biofidelity is still to be evaluated. This study uses THUMS as a reference to assess the external biofidelity of the most commonly used impactors (Flex-PLI, PDI-1 and PDI-2). This biofidelity assessment was performed by finite element simulation measuring the bumper beam forces exerted by each surrogate on a sedan and a SUV. The bumper beam was divided in 50 mm sections to capture the force distribution in both vehicles. This study, unlike most of the pedestrian-related literature, examines different impact locations and velocities.

Power steering systems provide significant design challenges. They are detrimental to fuel economy since most require the continuous operation of a hydraulic pump. This generates heat that must be dissipated by fluid lines and heat exchangers. This paper presents a simple one-dimensional transient model for power steering components. The model accounts for the pump power, heat dissipation from fluid lines, the power steering cooler, and the influence of radiation heat from exhaust system components. The paper also shows how to use a transient thermal model of the entire system to simulate the temperatures during cyclic operation of the system. The implications to design, drive cycle simulation, and selection of components are highlighted.

In 1972, the first SAE paper describing the use of computer simulation as a design tool for automotive air conditioning was written by these authors. Since then, many such simulations have been used and new tools such as CFD have been applied to this problem. This paper reviews the work over that past 35 years and presents several of the improvements in the basic component and system models that have occurred. The areas where “empirical” information is required for model support and the value of CFD cabin and external air flow modeling are also discussed.

This paper presents the results of a three city survey designed to determine the relative frequency of illumination of vehicle on-board diagnostic (OBD) malfunction indicator lights (MIL) on 2001 and later model year vehicles. The survey was conducted in a Canadian market, Regina, and two U.S. markets, Minneapolis and Denver, to assess claims that the presence of methycyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT®) in gasoline causes the failure of technology necessary to meet stringent Tier 2 emission standards applicable in North America. The results of the survey do not support the claim that MMT® is incompatible with the effective functioning of the advanced vehicle emission technology necessary to meet Tier 2 emission standards. The results substantiate that the performance of the most advanced vehicles operating on gasoline containing MMT® is not materially different from the performance of comparable vehicles operating on gasoline that does not contain MMT®.

Countries from every region in the world have set aggressive fuel economy targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To meet these requirements, automakers are using combinations of technologies throughout the vehicle drivetrain to improve efficiency. One of the most efficient types of gasoline engine technologies is the turbocharged gasoline direct injection (TGDI) engine. The market share of TGDI engines within North America and globally has been steadily increasing since 2008. TGDI engines can operate at higher temperature and under higher loads. As a result, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have introduced additional engine tests to regional and OEM engine oil specifications to ensure performance of TGDI engines is maintained. One such engine test, the General Motors turbocharger coking (GMTC) test (originally referred to as the GM Turbo Charger Deposit Test), evaluates the potential of engine oil to protect turbochargers from deposit build-up.

Mobile source emissions standards are becoming more stringent and particulate emissions from gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines represent a particular challenge. Gasoline particulate filter (GPF) is deemed as one possible technical solution for particulate emissions reduction. In this work, a study was conducted on eight formulations of lubricants to determine their effect on GDI engine particulate emissions and GPF performance. Accelerated ash loading tests were conducted on a 2.4L GDI engine with engine oil injection in gasoline fuel by 2%. The matrix of eight formulations was designed with changing levels of sulfated ash (SASH) level, Zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDP) level and detergent type. Comprehensive evaluations of particulates included mass, number, size distribution, composition, morphology and soot oxidation properties. GPF performance was assessed through filtration efficiency, back pressure and morphology.

Recently there has been a greater awareness of the increased risk of certain injuries associated with air bag deployment, especially the risks to small occupants, often women. These injuries include serious eye and upper extremity injuries and even fatalities. This study investigates the interaction of a deploying air bag with cadaveric upper extremities in a typical driving posture; testing concentrates on female occupants. The goals of this investigation are to determine the risk of upper extremity injury caused by primary contact with a deploying air bag and to elucidate the mechanisms of these upper extremity injuries. Five air bags were used that are representative of a wide range of air bag ‘aggressivities’ in the current automobile fleet. This air bag ‘aggressivity’ was quantified using the response of a dummy forearm under air bag deployment.

The poisoning of three way catalysts (TWC) by the phosphorus contained in oil formulations containing zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is examined. Catalysts were exposed to various types of ZDDP and detergents under conditions that were known to reduce performance through phosphorus poisoning without the blocking of sites by formation of glazing. The presence of phosphorus was detected with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). In addition to analyzing the surface concentration of the phosphorus on the washcoat, the catalyst was cross cut so phosphorus that diffused into the washcoat could be mapped. The total phosphorus in the catalyst could then be calculated. The amount of total phosphorus detected correlated well with the reduced activity of the catalyst as measured by the temperature of 50% conversion.

An engine test has been developed to assess the impact of volatile phosphorus from passenger car engine oils on catalytic converter efficiency. The ten-day, steady-state, catalyst aging test was established to promote the production and consumption of volatile phosphorus species contained in crankcase vapors that are evacuated and combusted via the PCV system. A system for sampling, analyzing and identifying crankcase vapors led to a greater understanding of the phosphorus-based poisoning mechanism. Catalytic converter conversion efficiency was assessed through an engine-based system that swept catalyst inlet temperature from low to high while using a constant flow of controlled exhaust gas. The test results indicate correct ranking of field-tested oils that have catalyst poisoning data.

This paper provides an overview of driveline fluids, in particular automatic transmission fluids (ATFs), and is intended to be a general reference for those working with such fluids. Included are an introduction to driveline fluids, highlighting what sets them apart from other lubricants, a history of ATF development, a description of key physical ATF properties and a comparison of ATF fluid specifications. Also included are descriptions of the chemical composition of such fluids and the commonly used basestocks. A section is included on how to evaluate used driveline oils, describing common test methods and some comments on interpreting the test results. Finally the future direction of driveline fluid development is discussed. A glossary of terms is included at the end.

Multiple plate disc clutches are used extensively for shifting gears in automatic transmissions. In the active clutches that engage or disengage during a shift the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) and friction material experience large changes in pressure, P, sliding speed, v, and temperature, T. The coefficient of friction, μ, of the ATF and friction material is a function of these variables so μ = μ(P,v,T) also changes during clutch engagement. These changes in friction coefficient can lead to noise or vibration if the ATF properties and clutch friction material are improperly matched. A theoretical understanding of what causes noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in shifting clutches is valuable for the development of an ATF suitable for a particular friction material. Here we present a theoretical model that identifies the slope, ∂μ/∂T, of the coefficient of friction with respect to temperature as a major contributor to the damping in a clutch during engagement.

Modern light-duty trucks and SUV's are designed to be aerodynamic to increase fuel economy. Such vehicle design significantly reduces the amount of air available to cool the rear axle in rear wheel drive vehicles. Reduced cooling coupled with higher power output and additional load from trailer towing operations results in higher axle operating temperatures, especially during the early operation or “break-in” phase of axle life. Higher axle operating temperatures decrease oil viscosity resulting in reduced oil film formation ability to protect against wear and contact fatigue. High temperature also shortens the useful life of gear oils. To facilitate the development of gear oils capable of reducing axle operation temperature, we have developed a laboratory simulation test method that can closely simulate actual trailer-towing driving on Baker's grade road under maximum GVCWR of close to 6,033 kg (13,300 lbs).

The torsional natural frequencies of axles equipped with limited slip differential clutches depend on whether or not the tires and clutches are slipping since the effective inertia at each end of the axle is different for slipping and non-slipping conditions. Limited slip axle vibrations are typically analyzed for one tire slipping and the other not since that is the case for which the limited slip clutches are used. Vibrations often arise, however, during normal turning when both drive tires have good traction.

This paper evaluates the biofidelity of the Hybrid III 5th percentile female dummy relative to seven small female cadavers tested as out-of-position drivers in static air bag deployment tests. In the out-of-position tests, the chest was positioned against the air bag module in an effort to recreate a worst-case loading environment for the thorax. Two pre-depowered production air bags and a prototype dual-stage air bag were evaluated. Thoracic accelerometers and chestbands were used to compare chest compression, velocity, acceleration, and Viscous Criteria. A statistical comparison of dummy and cadaver results indicate acceptable biofidelity of the Hybrid III dummy with significant differences observed only in the Viscous Criteria.