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GTL (Gas-To-Liquid) fuel is well known to improve tailpipe emissions when fuelling a conventional diesel vehicle, that is, one optimized to conventional fuel. This investigation assesses the additional potential for GTL fuel in a GTL-dedicated vehicle. This potential for GTL fuel was quantified in an EU 4 6-cylinder serial production engine. In the first stage, a comparison of engine performance was made of GTL fuel against conventional diesel, using identical engine calibrations. Next, adaptations enabled the full potential of GTL fuel within a dedicated calibration to be assessed. For this stage, two optimization goals were investigated: - Minimization of NOx emissions and - Minimization of fuel consumption. For each optimization the boundary condition was that emissions should be within the EU5 level. An additional constraint on the latter strategy required noise levels to remain within the baseline reference.

Fully variable valve trains provide comprehensive means of adjustment in terms of variable valve timing and valve lift. The efficiency of the engine is improved in the operating range and in return, an increasing complexness of the mechanical design and control engineering must be handled. For optimization and design of these kinds of complex systems, detailed simulation models covering different physical domains, i.e. mechanics, hydraulics, electrodynamics and control are needed. Topic of this work is the variable valve train named Audi valvelift system (AVS) e.g. used in the Audi 2.8l V6 FSI engine. The idea of AVS is to use different cam lobes at different operating points. Each intake valve can be actuated by a large and a small cam. For full load, the two inlet valves are opened by the large cam profile - ideal for high charge volumes and flow speeds in the combustion chamber. Under partial load, the small cam profiles are used.

A future car-to-x communication system has to fulfil a lot of different requirements concerning high performance and functionality that are given by the field of application. To be able to optimize the system architecture regarding these constraints an intensive architecture evaluation and investigation is necessary. Within this paper a simulative approach for comprehensive design space exploration, verification, and test of a car-to-x communication unit is presented. The proposed simulation environment allows for a flexible adaption to the test case by being able to interconnect an arbitrary number of simulators of different type and different granularity. As a novelty complete embedded car-to-x systems can be investigated by integrating several SystemC based architecture models into an environmental simulation and observing their behavior and interaction.

It is essential to include uncertainties in the simulation process in order to perform reliable vibroacoustic predictions in the early design phase. In this contribution, uncertainties are quantified using the generalized Polynomial Chaos (gPC) expansion in combination with a Finite Element (FE) model of a vehicle body in white. It is the objective to particularly investigate the applicability of the gPC method in the industrial context with a high number of uncertain parameters and computationally expensive models. A non-intrusive gPC expansion of first and second order is implemented and the approximation of a stochastic response process is compared to a Latin Hypercube sampling based reference solution with special regard to accuracy and computational efficiency. Furthermore, the method is examined for other input distributions and transferred to another FE model in order to verify the applicability of the gPC method in practical applications.

During the last decades, big steps have been taken towards a realistic simulation of NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) behavior of vehicles using the Finite Element (FE) method. The quality of these computation models has been substantially increased and the accessible frequency range has been widened. Nevertheless, to perform a reliable prediction of the vehicle vibroacoustic behavior, the consideration of uncertainties is crucial. With this approach there are many challenges on the way to valid and useful simulation models and they can be divided into three areas: the input uncertainties, the propagation of uncertainties through the FE model and finally the statistical output quantities. Each of them must be investigated to choose sufficient methods for a valid and fast prediction of vehicle body vibroacoustics. It can be shown by rough estimation that dimensionality of the corresponding random space for different types of uncertainty is tremendously high.

This paper describes a novel approach for modeling an automotive HVAC unit. The model consists of black-box models trained with experimental data from a self-developed measurement setup. It is capable of predicting the temperature and mass flow of the air entering the vehicle cabin at the various air vents. A combination of temperature and velocity sensors is the basis of the measurement setup. A measurement fault analysis is conducted to validate the accuracy of the measurement system. As the data collection is done under fluctuating ambient conditions, a review of the impact of various ambient conditions on the HVAC unit is performed. Correction models that account for the different ambient conditions incorporate these results. Numerous types of black-box models are compared to identify the best-suited type for this approach. Moreover, the accuracy of the model is validated using test drive data.

The electrification of off-highway machines are increasing significantly. Advanced functionalities, beneficial energy efficiency and effectiveness are only a few advantages of electric propulsion systems. To control these complex systems in varying environments intelligent algorithms at system level are needed. This paper addresses the topic of machine learning algorithms applied to off-highway machines and presents a methodology based on artificial neural networks to identify and recognize recurrent load cycles and work tasks. To gain efficiency and effectiveness benefits the recognized pattern settings are applied to the electric propulsion system to adjust relevant parameters online. A dynamic adaption of the DC-link voltage based on the operating points of the machine processes is identified as such a parameter.

Today, body vibration energy of passenger cars gets dissipated by linear working shock absorbers. A new approach substitutes the damper of a passenger car by a cardanic gimbaled flywheel mass. The constructive design leads to a rotary damper in which the vertical movement of the wheel carrier leads to revolution of the rotational axis of the flywheel. In this arrangement, the occurring precession moments are used to control damping moments and to store vibrational energy. Different damper characteristics are achieved by different induced precession. From almost zero torque output to high torque output, this damper has a huge spread. Next to the basic principal, in this paper an integration in the chassis, including a constructive proposal is shown. A conflict with high torque and high angular velocity leads to a special design. Moreover concepts to deal with all vehicle situations like yawing, rolling and pitching are shown.

Starting from the USA and followed by the European Union, legal requirements concerning “Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems” (TPMS) for passenger cars and light trucks will be introduced in China as well and therefore in the third of the three largest automobile markets worldwide. Changes of pressure dependent physical tire properties such as dynamic roll radius and a certain tire eigenfrequency, which are included in the ESC-wheel speed signals, indicates pressure loss in an indirect manner. Systems with corresponding working principles are called “indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System” (iTPMS). Since the tire is a structural element with varying characteristics according to the design parameters, the roll radius and frequency behavior due to pressure loss is variable as well. As a consequence, tires have to be evaluated regarding there compatibility to iTPMS during the vehicle development process.

The subject of this paper is the reduction of the particle number emissions of a gasoline DI engine at high engine load (1.4 MPa IMEP). To reduce the particle number emissions, several parameters are investigated: the large scale charge motion (baseline configuration, tumble and swirl) can be varied at the single cylinder engine by using inlays in the intake port. The amount of residual gas can be influenced by the exhaust backpressure. By using a throttle valve, the exhaust backpressure can be set equal to the intake pressure and hence simulate a turbocharger's turbine in the exhaust system or the throttle valve can be wide open and thus simulate an engine using a supercharger. Additionally, higher fuel injection pressure can help to enhance mixture formation and thus decrease particulate formation. Therefore, a solenoid injector with a maximum pressure of 30 MPa is used in this work.

The investigation of transient engine operation plays a key role of the future challenges for individual mobility in terms of real driving emissions (RDE). A fundamental investigation of the transient engine operation requires the simultaneous application of measurement technologies for an integrated study of mixture formation, combustion process and emission formation. The major prerequisite is the combustion cycle and crank angle resolved analysis of the process for at least several individual consecutive combustion cycles during transient operation. The investigations are performed with a multi cylinder DISI engine at an Engine-in-the-Loop test bench, able to operate the engine in driving cycles as well as within target profiles (e.g. speed and torque profiles). The research project describes the methodology of analyzing elementary transient operational phases, (e.g. different variants of load steps).

In ride comfort as well as driving dynamics, the behavior of the vehicle is affected by several subsystems and their properties. When analyzing the suspension, especially the characteristics of the main spring and damper but also rubber bushings are of main importance. Still, the properties of the different components are dependent on the present operating conditions. Concerning rubber bushings, several effects have already been investigated, e.g. dependencies of the transfer function of frequency, amplitude or load history. In this context influences of changes in temperature are often neglected. However, in the following research, the focus specifically lies on determination and analysis of the temperature dependency of rubber bushings. For this purpose, initially the relationship between properties of pure rubber and rubber bushings is described, which serves as a basis for correlating respective temperature dependencies.

A main challenge when developing next generation architectures for automated driving ECUs is to guarantee reliable functionality. Today’s fail safe systems will not be able to handle electronic failures due to the missing “mechanical” fallback or the intervening driver. This means, fail operational based on redundancy is an essential part for improving the functional safety, especially in safety-related braking and steering systems. The 2-out-of-2 Diagnostic Fail Safe (2oo2DFS) system is a promising approach to realize redundancy with manageable costs. In this contribution, we evaluate the reliability of this concept for a symmetric and an asymmetric Electronic Power Steering (EPS) ECU. For this, we use a Markov chain model as a typical method for analyzing the reliability and Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) in majority redundancy approaches. As a basis, the failure rates of the used components and the microcontroller are considered.

The open jet wind tunnel is a widespread test section configuration for developing full scale passenger cars in the automotive industry. However, using a realizable nozzle cross section for cost effective aerodynamic development is always connected to the presence of wind tunnel effects. Wind tunnel wall interferences which are not present under open road conditions, can affect the measurement of aerodynamic forces. Thus, wind tunnel corrections may be required. This work contains the results of a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) approach using unsteady Delayed Detached Eddy Simulations (DDES) to evaluate wind tunnel interferences for open jet test sections. The Full Scale DrivAer reference geometry of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) using different rear end shapes has been selected for these investigations.

Recent attempts to find energy-efficient thermal management systems for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have led to secondary loop systems as an alternative approach to meet dynamic heating and cooling demands and to reduce refrigerant charge. The choice of refrigerant for the primary refrigeration cycle is an important issue regarding the overall system performance. In this work, an HFC refrigerant (R-134a) and a natural refrigerant (R-744) are evaluated regarding a potential use in secondary loop systems. To meet the demands of R-744 cycles such as higher system pressure, most components have to be redeveloped. Nonetheless the use of the environmentally friendly refrigerant has advantages such as better applicability and performance in heat pump systems under cold ambient conditions.

Highly automated driving (HAD) is under rapid development and will be available for customers within the next years. However the evidence that HAD is at least as safe as human driving has still not been produced. The challenge is to drive hundreds of millions of test kilometers without incidents to show that statistically HAD is significantly safer. One approach is to let a HAD function run in parallel with human drivers in customer cars to utilize a fraction of the billions of kilometers driven every year. To guarantee safety, the function under test (FUT) has access to sensors but its output is not executed, which results in an open loop problem. To overcome this shortcoming, the proposed method consists of four steps to close the loop for the FUT. First, sensor data from real driving scenarios is fused in a world model and enhanced by incorporating future time steps into original measurements.

The development of hydrogen-fueled vehicles has created the need for established fuel consumption testing methods. Until now the EPA has only accepted three methods of hydrogen fuel consumption testing, gravimetric, PVT (stabilized pressure, volume and temperature), and Coriolis mass flow; all of which necessitate physical measurements of the fuel supply [1]. BMW has developed an equation and subsequent testing methods to accurately and effectively determine hydrogen fuel consumption in light-duty vehicles using only exhaust emissions. Known as “Hydrogen-Balance”, the new equation requires no changes to EPA procedures and only slight modifications to most existing chassis dynamometers and CVS (Constant Volume Sampling) systems. The SAE 2008-01-1036, also written by BMW, explains the background as well as required equipment and changes to the CVS testing system. This paper takes hydrogen balance further by testing it against the three EPA established forms of fuel consumption.

The Hydrogen-Balance equation makes it possible to calculate the fuel economy or fuel consumption of hydrogen powered vehicles simply by analyzing exhaust emissions. While the benefits of such a method are apparent, it is important to discuss possible influencing factors that may decrease Hydrogen-Balance accuracy. Measuring vehicle exhaust emissions is done with a CVS (Constant Volume Sampling) system. While the CVS system has proven itself both robust and precise over the years, utilizing it for hydrogen applications requires extra caution to retain measurement accuracy. Consideration should be given to all testing equipment, as well as the vehicle being tested. Certain environmental factors may also play a role not just in Hydrogen-Balance accuracy, but as also in other low emission testing accuracy.

With the introduction of the ISO26262 automotive safety standard there is a burden of proof to show that the processing elements in embedded microcontroller hardware are capable of supporting a certain diagnostic coverage level, depending on the required Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL). The current mechanisms used to provide actual metrics of the Built-in Self Tests (BIST) and Lock Step comparators use Register Transfer Level (RTL) simulations of the internal processing elements which force faults into individual nodes of the design and collect diagnostic coverage results. Although this mechanism is robust, it can only be performed by semiconductor suppliers and is costly. This paper describes a new solution whereby the microcontroller is synthesized into a large Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with a test controller on the outside.

Electronic design on detailed hardware level for automotive safety-related systems requires evaluation of the hardware architecture to cope with random hardware failures. The international standard ISO 26262 - functional safety for road vehicles - claims two methods: hardware architectural metrics and evaluation of safety goal violations as a probabilistic approach. Although the utilization of these analyses is required, annotations of failure data in combination with performing evaluation of a preliminary hardware architecture using deposited failure data is not supported in an integrated model-based development environment. To overcome these inconveniences, we analyzed the ISO 26262, in particular Part 5 for product development at the hardware level, to provide both, meta-model for failure description of detailed hardware and performing evaluation of the hardware architecture. This UML-compliant meta-model expands existing EAST-ADL2 constructs.