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In the modern automobile scenario in developing countries, customers are getting more meticulous and market more competitive. Now even the budget vehicle customer expects desirable vehicle performance in specific use cases of the vehicle that were previously not focused by designers. Hence, the focus on perceived quality challenges automobile engineers to go the extra mile when it comes to the cost-effective design of parts that are tangible to the customer. A vehicle's cowl cover is one such exterior component. The primary functions of this part are to provide air intake opening for the HVAC system and cover the components like wiper motor. The aesthetic function is to cover the gaps between windshield, hood, and fender as seamlessly as possible. A specific role of cowl cover, which calls for a designer's attention, is its load-bearing capability.

Continuously rising fuel prices and global concern on climate change have resulted in a need to deliver vehicles with increased fuel economy. This has to be achieved without compromising on performance, durability and cost. Passenger car manufacturers are looking at various ways to maximize fuel economy. Major part of fuel saving can be tapped from engine itself. This can be done by activities on engine as below: Improving overall combustion efficiency and hence BSFC Efficient thermal management. Weight reduction of engine parts or complete downsizing Hybridization. Reducing engine losses i.e. parasitic losses from auxiliaries and frictional losses. This paper is focused on the reduction of engine frictional losses (FMEP) through the use of low viscosity lubrication oils. Various factors in lubrication oil contribute to friction. Experimental approach to quantifying the effect of different parameters of lubrication oil on total engine friction is presented.

In manual transmission vehicles, Clutch has direct interaction with the driver and plays a significant role in defining the drivability and NVH of a vehicle. These key performance factors depend on the interaction of diaphragm and cushion springs of a clutch. For an automobile manufacturer, it’s essential to optimize the characteristics of these springs based vehicle performance requirements. A state of the art analytical model has been developed by modeling the diaphragm and cushion spring with exponential equations. Based on these models, response functions for release load, torque build-up, and pressure plate lift have been derived. Results achieved from these response functions are correlated with test data. Key contributing factors for peak clutch pedal load, vehicle launch acceleration, and disengagement point have been identified by sensitivity analysis. Multi-objective optimization is performed to select optimized parameters for vehicle performance improvement

The aim of the research was to explore and establish aspects that affect ageing of non-woven fabrics used in automobiles. One of the most vulnerable parts in a vehicle, at the behest of the customer, is the Floor Carpet. Original Equipment manufacturers are continually binging at doable options for providing low cost carpets that are functionally and aesthetically durable throughout the vehicle life. [1] Car interiors, especially carpet, must remain in impeccable condition to uphold a good resale value. Targeting the analysis of causes that affect ageing of non-woven fabric material will form the core study of the literature to follow. The establishment of which shall ascertain some viable solutions to augment quality of the contemporary non-woven automotive carpet.

In laboratory car crash tests, Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATD) are equipped with piezoresistive and resistive sensors for occupant injury assessment. Accelerometers are inertial transducers that convert acceleration into electrical output which can be easily recorded by a Data Acquisition System (DAS). For an accelerometer, this electrical output mainly depends upon subjected acceleration, sensitivity of the accelerometer, excitation voltage and gain provided. Before use in testing, accelerometers are calibrated at a standard excitation (manufacturer decided) voltage to determine characteristics like Sensitivity, Sensitivity per unit excitation voltage, Zero Measurand Output (ZMO), Transverse Sensitivity etc. It is observed that these characteristics are highly dependent on the excitation voltage. In testing, due to limitations of DAS and/or other unwanted noise in the excitation voltage, these accelerometers are sometimes used at a different excitation voltage.

Recent advancement in numerical solutions and advanced computational power has given a new dimension to the design and development of new products. The current paper focuses on the details of work done in order to improve the vehicle performance in Offset deformable Barrier (ODB) crash as per ECER-94. A Hybrid approach involving the Structural Crash CAE as well as Multi-body Simulation in MADYMO has been adopted. In first phase of the development, CAE results of Structural deformation as well as Occupant injury of the baseline model were correlated with physical test data. The second phase includes the improvement in intrusion and crash energy absorption by structural countermeasures in the vehicle body. In third phase parametric study has been carried out via Madymo simulation in order to decide on the factors which can be controlled in order to mitigate the Occupant injury. Recommendations of Madymo simulation have been confirmed by conducting Physical sled tests.