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Abstract Autonomous vehicles (AVs) rely heavily upon their perception subsystems to “see” the environment in which they operate. Unfortunately, the effect of variable weather conditions presents a significant challenge to object detection algorithms, and thus, it is imperative to test the vehicle extensively in all conditions which it may experience. However, the development of robust AV subsystems requires repeatable, controlled testing—while real weather is unpredictable and cannot be scheduled. Real-world testing in adverse conditions is an expensive and time-consuming task, often requiring access to specialist facilities. Simulation is commonly relied upon as a substitute, with increasingly visually realistic representations of the real world being developed.

Abstract The key issues of automatic emergency braking (AEB) control algorithm are when and how to brake. This article proposes an AEB control algorithm that integrates risk perception (RP) and emergency braking characteristics of professional drivers for rear-end collision avoidance. Using the formulated RP by time to collision (TTC) and time headway (THW), the brake trigger time can be determined. Based on the professional driver fitting (PDF) characteristic, the brake pattern can be developed. Through MATLAB/Simulink simulation platform, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro-NCAP) test scenarios are used to verify the proposed control algorithm. The simulation results show that compared with the TTC control algorithm, PDF control algorithm, and the integrated PDF and TTC control algorithm, the proposed integrated PDF and RP control algorithm has the best performance, which can not only ensure safety and brake comfort, but also improve the road resource utilization rate.

Abstract The water droplet erosion (WDE) on high-speed rotating wheels appears in several engineering fields such as wind turbines, stationary steam turbines, fuel cell turbines, and turbochargers. The main reasons for this phenomenon are the high relative velocity difference between the colliding particles and the rotor, as well as the presence of inadequate material structure and surface parameters. One of the latest challenges in this area is the compressor wheels used in turbochargers, which has a speed up to 300,000 rpm and have typically been made of aluminum alloy for decades, to achieve the lowest possible rotor inertia. However, while in the past this component was only encountered with filtered air, nowadays, due to developments in compliance with tightening emission standards, various fluids also collide with the spinning blades, which can cause mechanical damage.

Abstract Fluid mechanical design of the cylinder charge motion is an important part of an engine development. In the present contribution an intake port geometry is proposed that can be used as a test case for intake port flow simulations. The objective is to fill the gap between generic test cases, such as the backward facing step or the sudden expansion, and simulations of proprietary intake ports, which are barely accessible in the community. For the intake geometry measurement data was generated on a flow-through test bench and a wall-modeled LES-simulation using a hybrid RANS/LES approach for near-wall regions was conducted. The objective is to generate and analyze a reference flow case. Since mesh convergence studies are too costly for scale resolving approaches only one simulation was done, but on a very fine and mostly block-structured numerical mesh to achieve minimal numerical dissipation.

Abstract This study investigates the behavior of pre-chamber knock in comparison to traditional spark ignition engine knock, using a modified constant-volume gasoline engine with an optically accessible piston. The aim is to provide a deeper understanding of pre-chamber knock combustion and its potential for mitigating knock. Five passive pre-chambers with different nozzle diameters, volumes, and nozzle numbers were tested, and nitrogen dilution was varied from 0% to 10%. The stochastic nature of knock behavior necessitates the use of statistical methods, leading to the proposal of a high-frequency band-pass filter (37–43 kHz) as an alternative pre-chamber knock metric. Pre-chamber knock combustion was found to exhibit fewer strong knock cycles compared to SI engines, indicating its potential for mitigating knock intensity. High-speed images revealed pre-chamber knock primarily occurs near the liner, where end-gas knock is typically exhibited.

Abstract Automated driving as one of the most anticipated technologies is approaching its market release in the near future. Since several years, the research in the automotive industry is largely focused on its development and presents well-engineered prototypes. The many aspects of this development do not only concern the function and its components itself, but also the proof of safety and assessment for its market release. It is clear that previous methods used for the release of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are not applicable. In contrast to already released systems, automated driving is not restricted to a certain field of application in terms of driving scenarios it has to take action in. This results in an infeasible amount of required testing and unforeseeable scenarios the function can face throughout its lifetime. In this article, we show a scenario-based approach that promises to overcome those challenges.

Abstract A tandem axle suspension is an important system to the ride comfort and vehicle stability of and road damage experience from commercial vehicles. This article introduces an investigation into the use of a controlled active tandem axle suspension, which for the first time enables more effective control using two fuzzy logic controllers (FLC). The proposed controllers compute the actuator forces based on system outputs: displacements, velocities, and accelerations of movable parts of tandem axle suspension as inputs to the controllers, in order to achieve better ride comfort and vehicle stability and extend the lifetime of road surface than the conventional passive suspension. A mathematical model of a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) tandem axle suspension system is derived and simulated using Matlab/Simulink software.

Abstract In this article, a hierarchical coordinated control algorithm for integrating active rear steering and driving/braking force distribution (ARS+D/BFD) was presented. The upper-level control was synthesized to generate the required rear steering angle and external yaw moment by using a sliding-mode controller. In the lower-level controller, a control allocation algorithm considering driving/braking actuators and tire forces constraints was designed to assign the desired yaw moment to the four wheels. To this end, an optimization problem including several equality and inequality constraints were defined and solved analytically. Finally, computer simulation results suggest that the proposed hierarchical control scheme was able to help to achieve substantial enhancements in handling performance and stability.

Abstract Throughout the automobile industry, the electronic brake boost technologies have been widely applied to support the expansion of the using range of the driver assist technologies. The electronic brake booster (EBB) supports to precisely operate the brakes as necessary via building up the brake pressure faster than the vacuum brake booster. Therefore, in this article a novel control strategy for the EBB based on fuzzy logic control (FLC) is developed and studied. The configuration of the EBB is established and the system model including the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), a two-stage reduction transmission (gears and a ball screw), a servo body, reaction disk, and the hydraulic load are modeled by MATLAB/Simulink. The load-dependent friction has been compensated by using Karnopp friction model. Due to the strong nonlinearity on the EBB components and the load-dependent friction, FLC has been used for the control algorithm.

Abstract As automated driving technology is evolving quickly and becomes more widely deployed, it is essential to validate the Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF) of Automated Vehicles (AVs) prior to mass production. In general, an exhaustive real-world scenario validation of AVs is considered infeasible due to excessive time consumption. Additionally, simulation tests alone are often regarded as inadequate since it is difficult to model the system and physical properties of vehicles with full fidelity. Therefore, a SOTIF validation method for AVs is proposed in this article, which consists of structure design and scenario determination. A mature, systematic, and complete set of testing and evaluation procedures is presented in structure design, and a scenario generation method is introduced in scenario determination. The SOTIF validation method takes advantage of both simulation tests and on-road tests.

Abstract Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) is a promising advanced combustion concept with high efficiencies and low emissions. Chemical kinetic mechanisms and ignition delay correlations (IDCs) are often applied to simulate HCCI combustion. However, a large number of mechanisms and correlations are not developed specifically for HCCI conditions, i.e., lean mixtures and usually with significant residual gas fractions (RGF). To address this issue, a two-part study is conducted. First, experimental ignition delay time (IDT) data from literature under typical HCCI conditions is collected. Then, thirteen widely applied mechanisms for ethanol, natural gas, and primary reference fuel (PRF) blends of isooctane and n-heptane are validated by running constant-volume simulations. Their performance and accuracy are evaluated. Second, the mechanism with the highest accuracy for each fuel is used to generate IDCs for HCCI conditions.

Abstract Constant area section length downstream to the fuel injection point is a crucial dimension of scramjet duct geometry. It has a major contribution in creating the maximum effective pressure inside the combustor that is required for propulsion. The length is limited by the thermal choking phenomenon, which occurs when heat is added in a flow through constant area duct. As per theory, to avoid thermal choking the constant area section length depends upon the inlet conditions and the rate of heat addition. The complexity related to mixing and combustion process inside the supersonic stream makes it difficult to predict the rate of heat addition and in turn the length. Recent efforts of simulating the reacting flow inside scramjet combustors are encouraging and can be useful in this regard. The presented work attempts to use simulation results of scramjet combustion for predicting the constant area section length for a typical scramjet combustor.

Abstract This article presents surrogate mixtures that simulate the physical and chemical properties in the auto-ignition of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Experimental investigation was conducted in the Ignition Quality Tester (IQT) to validate the auto-ignition properties with respect to those of the target fuel. The surrogate development approach is assisted by artificial neural network (ANN) embedded in MATLAB optimization function. Aspen HYSYS is used to calculate the key physical and chemical properties of hundreds of mixtures of representative components, mainly alkanes—the dominant components of HVO, to train the learning algorithm. Binary and ternary mixtures are developed and validated in the IQT. The target properties include the derived cetane number (DCN), density, viscosity, surface tension, molecular weight, and volatility represented by the distillation curve. The developed surrogates match the target fuel in terms of ignition delay and DCN within 6% error range.

Abstract As the automotive industry moves toward electrification, battery costs and vehicle range are two large issues that will delay this movement. These issues can be partially resolved through the use of series-hybrid vehicles, which can replace a portion of the batteries with a small engine that serves to recharge the battery. Given the size, weight, and operational constraints of this engine, a 2-stroke engine makes sense. Indeed, 2-stroke engines are currently being used for a number of applications including consumer products, small ground vehicles, boats, and drones. The technology has significantly improved to allow for reduced emissions and increased efficiency, especially through the use of direct injection. This article discusses the state of technology for 2-stroke engines and its application in series-hybrid vehicles. In particular, the use of a 2-stroke engine as a range extender provides significant benefit in range and cost over fully electric vehicles.

Abstract A numerical study using large-eddy simulations (LES) to reproduce and understand sources of cycle-to-cycle variation (CCV) in spark-initiated internal combustion engines (ICEs) is presented. Two relevantly different spark-ignition (SI) units, that is, a homogeneous-charge slow-speed single-cylinder research unit (the transparent combustion chamber (TCC)-III, Engine 1) and a stratified-charge high-revving speed gasoline direct injection (GDI) (Engine 2) one, are analyzed in fired operations. Multiple-cycle simulations are carried out for both engines and LES results well reproduce the experimentally measured combustion CCV. A correlation study is carried out, emphasizing the decisive influence of the early flame period variability (1% of mass fraction burnt (MFB1)) on the entire combustion event in both ICEs. The focus is moved onto the early flame characteristics, and the crucial task to determine the dominant causes of its variability (if any) is undertaken.

Abstract This study evaluates the applicability of the Octane Index (OI) framework under conventional spark ignition (SI) and “beyond Research Octane Number (RON)” conditions using nine fuels operated under stoichiometric, knock-limited conditions in a direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engine, supported by Monte Carlo-type simulations which interrogate the effects of measurement uncertainty. Of the nine tested fuels, three fuels are “Tier III” fuel blends, meaning that they are blends of molecules which have passed two levels of screening, and have been evaluated to be ready for tests in research engines. These molecules have been blended into a four-component gasoline surrogate at varying volume fractions in order to achieve a RON rating of 98. The molecules under consideration are isobutanol, 2-butanol, and diisobutylene (which is a mixture of two isomers of octene). The remaining six fuels were research-grade gasolines of varying formulations.

Abstract To reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from mobile air conditioning (A/C) systems, “U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards” identified solar/thermal technologies such as solar control glazings, solar reflective paint, and active and passive cabin ventilation in an off-cycle credit menu. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers developed a sophisticated analysis process to calculate U.S. light-duty A/C fuel use that was used to assess the impact of these technologies, leveraging thermal and vehicle simulation analysis tools developed under previous U.S. Department of Energy projects. Representative U.S. light-duty driving behaviors and weighting factors including time-of-day of travel, trip duration, and time between trips were characterized and integrated into the analysis.

Abstract Electric Vehicle (EV) equipped with two-speed transmission has benefit in improving dynamic performance and saving battery consumption. However, during gear shift process, torque interruption and shift impact may lead to a bad shift quality. This work investigates gear shift process in an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) configuration-based two-speed transmission. First of all, a typical gear shift process is analyzed. Parameters like motor speed, shift force, motor torque change rate, and speed difference between synchronizer and target engage gear are all included to find the relationships with shift duration. Then vehicle jerk is introduced as a criterion to evaluate shift impact. Besides, a comprehensive shift control strategy is developed. While keeping the output torque at wheels unchanged, the shift strategy also improved motor working efficiency after gear shift.

Abstract In urban roads the engine speed and the load vary suddenly and frequently, resulting in increased exhaust emissions. In such operations, the effect of air injection technique to access the transient response of the engine is of great interest. The effectiveness of air injection technique in improving the transient response under speed transient is investigated in detail [1]; however, it is not evaluated for the load transients. Load step demand of the engine is another important event that limits the transient response of the turbocharger. In the present study, response of a heavy-duty turbocharged diesel engine is investigated for different load conditions. Three cases of load transients are considered: constant load, load magnitude variation, and load scheduling. Air injection technique is simulated and after optimization of injection pressure based on orifice diameter, its effect on the transient response is presented.

Abstract Low-Pressure cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (LP-cEGR) is proven to be an effective technology for fuel efficiency improvement in turbocharged spark-ignition (SI) engines. Aiming to fully exploit the EGR benefits, new challenges are introduced that require more complex and robust control systems and strategies. One of the most important restrictions of LP-cEGR is the transient response, since long air-EGR flow paths introduce significant transport delays between the EGR valve and the cylinders. High dilution generally increases efficiency, but can lead to cycle-by-cycle combustion variation. Especially in SI engines, higher-than-requested EGR dilution may lead to combustion instabilities and misfires. Considering the long EGR evacuation period, one of the most challenging transient events is throttle tip-out, where the engine operation shifts from a high-load point with high dilution tolerance to a low-load point where EGR tolerance is significantly reduced.