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The trend lately has shifted towards usage of thin wall and ultra-thin wall substrates. This change has come to existence due to the increased acting surface area available in these substrates. However these types of substrates have reduced isostatic strength comparatively, reducing its canning durability. This phenomenon has induced a new canning methodology which shall not disturb the substrate integrity during canning and also perform effectively to the requirements. This can be achieved by controlled canning which includes a huge investment and so a new methodology has been devised using the available resources and a partial controlled canning process is established and verified for canning performance and found to be effective. The paper shall include the procedural explanation and a set of results obtained by the new methodology to support its effectiveness.

Simulation's drive towards reality boundary conditions is the toughest challenge. Experience has shown that often the most significant source of error in thermal and dynamic analyses is associated within specified boundary conditions. Typically, validating the system by considering both thermal and dynamic loads with predefined assumptions is time consuming and inconclusive when confronted with reality boundary conditions. Thus, the solution comes in unique way of combining thermal and dynamic loads with specified boundary conditions and will convey computational results closer to the real scenario. As a consequence, strain concentrated regions due to thermal expansion are aggregated more, when coupled with dynamic loading. The stress generated by the coupled analyses will prove to be critical in concerning the durability issue of the hot end system. These conditions are evaluated by a finite element model through linear and non-linear approaches and results summarized.

A compact, knitted, crimped wiremesh mixer disposed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, between the reductant injection and the urea SCR unit, increases the uniformity of the reductant in the exhaust stream by the time the stream reaches the SCR catalysis unit. Wiremesh mixer enhances thermolysis of urea into ammonia and iso-cyanic acid (HNCO). Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling shows improved uniformity index from 0.94 to 0.99 within 35 mm travel length due to longitudinal and radial flow of the exhaust gas through the body of the wiremesh mixer. The higher thermolysis and rapid warm-up nature of the wiremesh provides enhanced ammonia production from urea thermolysis. Wiremesh physical attributes such as material composition, geometry and structure, wire diameter, mesh crimp pitch, crimp depth, crimp angle and the contour are optimized for minimum back pressure and maximum mixing efficiency.

While advanced automotive system assemblies contribute greater value to automobile safety, reliability, emission/noise performance and comfort, they are also generating higher temperatures that can reduce the functionality and reliability of the system over time. Thermal management and proper insulation are extremely important and highly demanding for the functioning of BSVI and RDE vehicles. Frugal engineering is mandatory to develop heat shield in the exhaust system with minimum heat loss. Heat shield design parameters such as insulation material type, insulation material composition, insulation thickness, insulation density, air gap thickness and outer layer material are studied for their influences on skin temperature using mathematical calculation, CFD simulation and measurement. Simulation results are comparable to that of the test results within 10% deviation.

Due to the large size, high bulk density and high thermal expansion coefficient of the diesel particulate filter substrate; the conventional mounting system cannot provide the necessary radial mounting pressure. Mathematical and experimental results give the vibration and the back pressure force needed to mount the diesel particulate filter in the exhaust system. L-seal mounting support used in diesel particulate filter provides cushion to accommodate the linear tolerance of the substrate and the cone and also the necessary axial and radial mounting forces. L-seal axial and radial mounting forces are altered by type of material, surface characteristics, heat treatment and wire geometry. The proportional increase in compression force per unit weight during cycling shows dimensional consistency of the L-seal. The compression characteristics of A286 tremendously increase (>20%) during heat treatment as precipitation and hardening occurs.

Advanced substrate design, efficient washcoat/catalyst formulation and robust packaging are critical elements to assure performance and durability of catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters. Radial seals, axial seals and L-seals made of knitted wiremesh are used with conventional mounting systems to provide compressible and durable support cushions for catalyst and filter substrates. Axial and radial mounting forces of the seals are optimized by material type, seal density, wiremesh strand, wiremesh surface profile (flat or round), wiremesh surface characteristics, wiremesh temper, thermal impacts, and wiremesh geometry. Compression characteristics of stainless steel alloy A286 tremendously increase (>20%) during heat treatment as precipitation and hardening occurs. Compression force tends to stabilize during cycling, retaining a residual force. Radial seals provide radial mounting pressure and mat erosion protection.

A combined Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation and physical fatigue testing of a passenger car exhaust system resonator with wire mesh seal between the inlet and outlet pipe is performed to evaluate the durability and improvise the design. The outlet pipe end cap of the exhaust system resonator deformed and cracked at the fillet region repeatedly upon the application of the maximum load from a pre developed accelerated specification test. However, the system meets the end usage on-road durability target of 5 years / 1,00,000 km. There is a gap between the accelerated bench test and the end usage durability target. The current study correlates CAE simulation and biaxial fatigue testing and improvise possible alternate resonator design. Conventionally, components passing the accelerated test always meets the end usage durability target whereas components meeting the end usage durability target need not necessarily pass the accelerated test.

Bending moment is one of the strongest pursuits in resonator's structural validation. Eigen problems play a key role in the stability and forced vibration analysis of structures. This paper explains the methodology to determine the weak points in the resonator assembly considering the additional effects of the installation forces and temperature impacts. Using strain energy plots, weakest part of the product is identified in the initial stage. The solution comes in unique way of utilizing the worst case scenarios possible. As a consequence, the stress generated by these analyses will prove to be critical in concerning the durability issue of the system. These conditions are evaluated by a finite element model through linear approaches and results are summarized.

An advanced three-way converter system with significant improvements in light-off performance, conversion efficiency, thermal stability and physical durability at high operating temperature is described. The converter system is comprised of a light-weight ceramic substrate with high surface area triangular cell structure, a new catalyst formulation with enhanced thermal stability and good substrate compatibility, and a durable packaging design which together lead to consistent improvements in high temperature performance and durability. Experimental data including FTP performance, canning trials, and high temperature vibration and thermal shock tests for both the advanced and standard three-way converter systems are presented.