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In an effort to reduce CO2 emissions, governments are increasingly mandating the use of various levels of biofuels. While this is strongly supported in principle within the energy and transportation industries, the impact of these mandates on the transport stock’s CO2 emissions and overall operating efficiency has yet to be fully explored. This paper provides information on studies to assess biodiesel influences and effects on engine performance, driveability, emissions and fuel consumption on state-of-the-art Euro IV compliant Toyota Avensis D4-D vehicles with DPNR aftertreatment systems. Two fuel matrices (Phases 1 & 2) were designed to look at the impact of fuel composition on vehicle operation using a wide range of critical parameters such as cetane number, density, distillation and biofuel (FAME) level and type, which can be found within the current global range of Diesel fuel qualities.

In the studies of disc brake squeal, the vibration modes on squealing were measured, and calculated [1, 2 and 3]. By those results to the disk rotor, it is clear that the specific type of the modes affect the squeal generation. It is not clear whether mounting bracket mode shapes contribute to squeal, because the mounting bracket mode shapes cannot be classified in the same way as the rotor mode shapes. In this paper, by using FEM modal analysis the vibration modes of the mounting bracket are classified systematically. And by adopting this classification to the vibration mode of mounting on squealing, it is confirmed that the specific type of modes of mounting affect the squeal generation.

The purpose of this research is to clarify how damping characteristics of Under Layer (hereafter “UL”) material in the brake pads (hereafter “PAD”) influences brake squeal noise performance. In this study, UL material structure and dynamic viscoelasticity, for two different types of UL formulations are investigated. In addition, PAD damping ratio and squeal noise performance for multiple UL formulations are verified. As a result, the raw material orientation is determined based on manufacturing method, and it causes the UL material’s anisotropic properties. Dynamic viscoelasticity are dependent on the direction in which they are measured. In particular, the loss modulus, which is the damping element of dynamic viscoelasticity, is higher in the direction of the raw material orientation for the high damping and high stiffness UL formulation. In addition, it was confirmed that this loss modulus in the direction of the raw material orientation is effective for bending vibration.

A new type of electric brake booster, which can control brake pedal feeling completely with software, has been developed to explore how a brake system can be used to differentiate and personalize vehicles. In the future, vehicles may share an increasing amount of hardware and rely more heavily on software to differentiate between models. Car sharing, vehicle subscriptions, and other new business models may create a new emphasis on the personalization of vehicles that may be achieved most cost effectively by using software. This new brake booster controls the brake pedal force and brake pressure independently based on the brake pedal stroke so that the pedal feeling is completely defined by software. The booster uses two electric motors and one master cylinder. One electric motor controls the pedal force and provides an assist force that amplifies the force that the driver applies to the brake pedal.

Electronic stability control (ESC) is becoming a standard technology in passenger cars, and because of its effectiveness in reducing serious traffic accidents, its use is spreading to commercial vehicles. ESC is activated by comparing the target vehicle behavior, which is analyzed based on driver operation, with the actual vehicle behavior, which is detected by onboard sensors. The target vehicle behavior is analyzed with an initial steer characteristic (such as a vehicle stability factor Ks) representing a vehicle turning characteristic (understeer, neutral steer, or oversteer). Because Ks changes depending on the payload loading states (such as vehicle mass and location of center of gravity), it varies considerably for commercial vehicles. We analyzed the influence of error in Ks on ESC performance and established a method for the online estimation of Ks. ESC includes the restriction functions of oversteer and understeer.

This paper discusses the effective utilization of tire force for improving vehicle dynamics. A sensing technology that can detect the tire force based on the transformation of the tire and suspension bushing has been developed. By applying this sensing technology, ABS can be controlled around the μ-peak of the tire to shorten the stopping distance.

Injuries of the human brain and spinal cord associated with the central nervous system (CNS) are seen in automotive accidents. CNS injuries are generally categorized into severe injuries (AIS 3+). However, it is not clear how the restraint conditions affect the CNS injuries. This paper presents a newly developed three-dimensional (3D) finite element head-neck model in order to investigate the biomechanical responses of the brain-spinal cord complex. The head model consists of the scalp, skull, and a detailed description of the brain including the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem with distinct white and gray matter, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), sagittal sinus, dura, pia, arachnoid, meninx, falx cerebri, and tentorium. Additionally, the neck model consists of the cervical vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments, spinal cord with white and gray matter, cervical pia, and CSF.

The prevention of brake squeal is a significant task in brake development, because brake squeal is bothersome to users and consequently reduces a vehicle's commercial value. Due to the progress made by researchers in their efforts to gain insight into the mechanisms and causes of brake squeal, the number of brake squeal complaints has declined. However, brake squeal can appear long after the vehicle is produced, without any early sign. In order to maintain long-term high satisfaction among the vehicle owners, it is important to find the factors that create a gradual increase in the occurrence of brake squeal. In this study, we focus on the stiffness factor of brake pads. Also, brake-pad wear due to braking is virtually impossible to completely eliminate. Here, we examine the correlation between pad stiffness and squeal occurrence. This study presents experimental and analytical results of the influence of pad surface texture on disc brake squeal.

In order to further improve the performance of NOx storage-reduction catalysts (NSR catalysts), focus was placed on their high temperature performance deterioration via sulfur poisoning and heat deterioration. The reactions between the basicity or acidity of supports and the storage element, potassium, were analyzed. It was determined that the high temperature performance of NSR catalysts is enhanced by the interaction between potassium and zirconia, which is a basic metal oxide. Also, a new zirconia-titania complex metal oxides was developed to improve high temperature performance and to promote the desorption of sulfur from the supports after aging.

Brake squeal is uncomfortable noise that occurs while braking. It is an important issue for automobile quality to prevent brake products from squealing. Brake shims are widely used to reduce squeal occurrence rate. In particular, laminated shims can effectively suppress squeal via the viscoelastic damping of an adhesive layer. However, there are cases where the damping performance at low temperature and the durability performance at high temperature deteriorate. In that regard, we thought of applying frictional damping to shims instead of relying on a temperature-sensitive adhesive layer. To study the application of frictional damping for shims, it is necessary to clarify the characteristics thereof. In order to quantify the damping performance of shims, loss factor has been generally measured with a bending mode tester. However, the influence of friction cannot be evaluated because it is measured under pressure-free condition.

Brake pads are composite materials made from dozens of ingredients intended to simultaneously satisfy various performances such as brake effectiveness, wear, noise and vibrations. For this reason, the friction phenomena that occur during braking are complicated. It is important to clarify the friction phenomena, but that is not easy because the associated complexities as mentioned above. We looked to acoustic emission (AE) as an online evaluation method of friction phenomena. AE is a non-destructive testing method that measures elastic stress waves caused by the deformation and fracturing of materials. In fact, it has been reported that the difference between abrasive wear and adhesive wear of a metal can be identified from the change in the frequency spectrum of AE signals. In this study, we verify whether differences in the friction phenomena of brake pads are detectable by the AE method. Three kinds of brake pads were used in the experiments.

To solve various environmental problems, fuel-efficient vehicles that reduce CO2 emissions as well as exhaust gas emissions have been developed. In such vehicles, a regenerative brake is used to further reduce fuel consumption. Because the market size for such vehicles is expanding, a brake system is required that can be used in a wide range of vehicles extending from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to electric vehicles (EVs). In addition, issues such as deceleration fluctuation and brake pedal fluctuation arise because the regenerative brake force is dependent on the vehicle speed. This paper presents a brake system configuration and its element technologies that can replace existing brake systems in different vehicles ranging from ICEVs to EVs. The proposed system can realize a regenerative cooperative brake not only by replacing the brake booster unit but also without replacing the modulator.

Breath alcohol interlock systems are used in Europe and the U.S. for drunk driving offenders, and a certain effect has been revealed in the prevention of drunk driving. Nevertheless, problems remain to be solved with commercialized detectors, i.e., a person taking the breath alcohol test must strongly expire to the alcohol detector through a mouthpiece for every test, more over the determination of the breath alcohol concentration requires more than 5 seconds. The goal of this research is to develop a device that functions suitable and unobtrusive enough as the interlock system. For this purpose, a new alcohol detector, which does not require a long and hard blowing to the detector through a mouthpiece, has been investigated. In this paper, as a tool available on board, a contact free alcohol detector for the prevention of drunk driving has been developed.

To investigate the effect of muscle activity in pre-impact on injury outcome, we developed a human arm finite element model with muscles which consisted of solid elements and truss elements that could be used for simulating muscle stiffness change for the inputted activity and 3-D geometry of each muscle. Two series of experimental tests on muscle stiffness change and arm flexion were conducted for validation of the model. Comparisons between the simulation results and test data indicated the model validity. Lateral impact simulations for a left arm demonstrated that the muscle activity in pre-impact had significant effects on the motion and stress distribution of the arm bones.

A few reports suggest differences in injury outcomes between cadaver tests and real-world accidents under almost similar conditions. This study hypothesized that muscle activity could primarily cause the differences, and then developed a human body finite element (FE) model with individual muscles. Each muscle was modeled as a hybrid model of bar elements with active properties and solid elements with passive properties. The model without muscle activation was firstly validated against five series of cadaver test data on impact responses in the anterior-posterior direction. The model with muscle activation levels estimated based on electromyography (EMG) data was secondly validated against four series of volunteer test data on bracing effects for stiffness and thickness of an upper arm muscle, and braced driver's responses under a static environment and a brake deceleration.

We have developed a new vehicle dynamics control system that is based on a new concept and uses a new hydraulic modulator. The new algorithm, which reflects the concept and hydraulic modulator, can control a vehicle not only in emergency but also in normal driving situation. This results in excellent vehicle controllability.

HEV and EV markets are in a rapid expansion tendency. Development of low-cost regenerative cooperation brake system is needed in order to respond to the consumers needs for HEV and EV. Regenerative cooperation brake system which HEV and EV are generally equipped with has stroke simulator. We developed simple composition brake system based on the conventional ESC unit without the stroke simulator, and our system realized a low-cost regenerative cooperation brake. The key technologies are the quiet pressurization control which can be used in the service application, which is to make brake force depending on brake travel, by gear pump and the master cylinder with idle stroke to realize regenerative cooperation brake. Thanks to the key technologies, both the high regenerative efficiency and the good service brake feeling were achieved.

The use of hybrid, fuel cell electric, and pure electric vehicles is on the increase as part of measures to help reduce exhaust gas emissions and to help resolve energy issues. These vehicles use regenerative-friction brake coordination technology, which requires a braking system that can accurately control the hydraulic brakes in response to small changes in regenerative braking. At the same time, the spread of collision avoidance support technology is progressing at a rapid pace along with a growing awareness of vehicle safety. This technology requires braking systems that can apply a large braking force in a short time. Although brake systems that have both accurate hydraulic control and large braking force have been developed in the past, simplification is required to promote further adoption.

In recent years, there has been a growing need for excellent automobile safety. The number of vehicle with active safety systems such as ABS, Brake Assist and VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) is dramatically increasing. A current brake control systems tend to generate activating noise and uncomfortable brake pedal feeling, which they have to restrain its positive use during ordinary braking. To improve this point, a new brake control system has been developed. This paper introduces the configuration, functions and effects of the system. The new hydraulic modulator adopts a gear pump (trochoid pump) and linear solenoid valves. This allows the modulator to be controlled silently and smoothly. As a result, it becomes possible to apply hydraulic pressure in the normal operating range at any time and a high level of performance is realized. Several new benefits were added to the current control system.

This paper gives an outline of the steering assistance system (hereinafter, SAS) and a description of its key technology: the lane recognition algorithm. To accommodate a variety of driving styles, the SAS is equipped with a lane keeping assistance mode (LKA mode) and a lane departure warning mode (LDW mode) that can be selectively set by the driver. The former mode works in combination with adaptive cruise control (ACC) and carries the advantage of relieving the driving load that is placed on the driver. The latter mode has the benefit of reducing the danger of lane departure accidents caused by the driver dozing off and taking his eyes off the road. The newly developed lane recognition ECU has a simple hardware set-up of two 32-bit microcomputers. The lane recognition algorithm was constructed on the basis of a logic process that analyzes pattern edge points and selects a set of edge points that most closely resemble lanemarks.