Search Results

Abstract Three-dimensional patterns representing crosshatched plateau-honed cylinder bores based on two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of measured surfaces were generated and used to calculate pressure flow, shear-driven flow, and shear stress factors. Later, the flow and shear stress factors obtained by numerical simulations for various surface patterns were used to calculate lubricant film thickness and friction force between piston ring and cylinder bore contact in typical diesel engine conditions using a mixed lubrication model. The effects of various crosshatch honing angles, such as 30°, 45°, and 60°, and texture heights on engine friction losses, wear, and oil consumption were discussed in detail. It is observed from numerical results that lower lubricant film thickness values are generated with higher honing angles, particularly in mixed lubrication regime where lubricant film thickness is close to the roughness level, mainly due to lower resistance to pressure flow.

Abstract Gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) are important aftertreatment components that enable gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines to meet European Union (EU) 6 and China 6 particulate number emissions regulations for nonvolatile particles greater than 23 nm in diameter. GPFs are rapidly becoming an integral part of the modern GDI aftertreatment system. The Active Exhaust Tuning (EXTUN) Valve is a butterfly valve placed in the tailpipe of an exhaust system that can be electronically positioned to control exhaust noise levels (decibels) under various vehicle operating conditions. This device is positioned downstream of the GPF, and variations in the tuning valve position can impact exhaust backpressures, making it difficult to monitor soot/ash accumulation or detect damage/removal of the GPF substrate. The purpose of this work is to present a unique example of subsystem control and diagnostic architecture for an exhaust system combining GPF and EXTUN.

Abstract The variation of inflation pressure has an important effect on the longitudinal slip characteristics of tires that can affect the braking performance of the vehicle, so the influence of inflation pressure should be taken into account in high-precision tire models. However, the effects of inflation pressure and vertical load on tire force and moment characteristics are usually coupled. When the inflation pressure is changing while keeping the load constant, the tire contact patch and carcass stiffness will change at the same time, so the contribution of tread and carcass to tire traction properties cannot be decoupled so that the tire design cannot be well guided. On the contrary, if the vertical loading method is changed, the vertical deflection control is used instead of load control.

Abstract This study predicts the dynamic characteristics for tires in the development stages of a vehicle with a focus on the generated forces. In particular, this investigation proposes an approximation analysis for the deflection and contact characteristics of a pneumatic tire. This consists of an integrated model for a three-dimensional membrane ring and brush models. This model is more complex than conventional models, which resulted in increased computational costs. Because the tire dynamic characteristics affects the contact pressure, the deformation of the tread rubber caused an interaction of forces. Therefore, the tread ring deformation was defined as a summation of the mode basis functions, which expressed vibrational behavior. This approximation linearizes the energy function, which helped calculate the potential energy of the tire structure using a theoretical equation without discretization.

Abstract The aim of this work is to present the results achieved in the evaluation of combustion metrics using low-cost sensors for the indirect measurement of cylinder pressure. The developed transducers are piezoelectric rings placed under the spark plugs. Tests were carried out on three different engines running in various speed and load conditions. The article shows the characteristics of the signals generated by the piezo-ring sensors, compared to those coming from laboratory-grade pressure transducers: focus is to assess the achievable accuracy in the determination of frequently used combustion metrics, such as those related to knock intensity (Maximum Amplitude of Pressure Oscillations, MAPO), combustion phasing (MFB10, MFB50, …), and peak pressure.

Abstract Closed crankcase ventilation (CCV) systems are required in most automotive markets in order to meet emissions regulations. Such systems usually require a separator to recover oil and return it to the sump. Many end users fit improved separators in order to reduce intake/aftercooler contamination with soot/oil. This study measured clean and wet pressure drop and filter capture efficiency in 12 different crankcase oil mist separators which are commonly used for either original equipment (OE) or aftermarket fitment to passenger vehicles and four-wheel drives (≤200 kW). The filters tested spanned three different size/rating classes as well as included both branded and unbranded (imitation) models. In addition to filters, separators (often termed “catch cans”) and an OE cyclone separator were also examined. Testing was performed under controlled laboratory conditions using methods equivalent to previous work and current mist filter test standards.

Abstract A fully predictive one-dimensional model of a Common Rail injection apparatus for diesel passenger cars is presented and discussed. The apparatus includes high-pressure pump, high-pressure pipes, injectors, rail and a fuel-metering valve that is used to control the rail pressure level. A methodology for separately assessing the accuracy of the single submodels of the components is developed and proposed. The complete model of the injection system is finally validated by means of a comparison with experimental high-pressure and injected flow-rate time histories. The predictive model is applied to examine the fluid dynamics of the injection system during either steady-state or transient operations. The influence of the pump delivered flow-rate on the rail-pressure time history and on the injection performance is analysed for different energizing times and nominal rail pressure values.

Abstract Ducted fuel injection (DFI) has been shown to attenuate engine-out soot emissions from diesel engines. The concept is to inject fuel through a small tube within the combustion chamber to enable lower equivalence ratios at the autoignition zone, relative to conventional diesel combustion. Previous experiments have demonstrated that DFI enables significant soot attenuation relative to conventional diesel combustion for a small set of operating conditions at relatively low engine loads. This is the first study to compare DFI to conventional diesel combustion over a wide range of operating conditions and at higher loads (up to 8.5 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure) with a four-orifice fuel injector. This study compares DFI to conventional diesel combustion through sweeps of intake-oxygen mole fraction (XO2), injection duration, intake pressure, start of combustion (SOC) timing, fuel-injection pressure, and intake temperature.

Abstract A non-pneumatic tire (NPT) has a lot of applications and is a viable option for the future, as they do not possess the problem of blowouts and air pressure maintenance. In these NPTs, the air-filled part is replaced by a flexible structure capable of withstanding the weight of the vehicle and delivering optimum performance. In the present study, endeavors have been made to analyze the rolling performance of NPTs by considering a light commercial vehicle as an application. The NPTs with three different configurations are studied by considering three hyperelastic material models for the hexagonal spoke structure and shear band under various loading conditions. Initially, static analysis for the models is conducted in two dimension (2D) and three dimension (3D) to validate the results, and these models were further extended to rolling analysis. The rolling resistance and slip ratios are obtained and compared in both 2D and 3D analyses.

Abstract In lean burn combustion, jet ignition is such a promising technology that is often used to improve the ignition and enhance combustion stability when ignition failure and misfire might occur. Four different orifice configurations are applied in the fueled prechamber and lean main chamber system to investigate the effect of orifice configurations on flame propagation and pressure oscillation. The combustion phases of jet ignition, pressure wave propagation, and mechanism of jet combustion with various orifice configurations considered are presented. In the present work, three phases of jet ignition propagation are observed. Besides, it is found that when the total orifice area is the same, the single-orifice configuration presents the fastest flame propagation and pressure oscillation. The viscosity effect and interactions between jet flows in multi-orifice configurations account for this phenomenon.

Abstract At gasoline direct injection, light-duty engines operated with homogeneous, stoichiometric combustion mode, particulate emissions are mainly formed in diffusion flames that result from prior fuel wall wetting. Besides the piston, liner, and intake valves, the injector tip acts as a main particulate source when fuel is adhered to it during an injection. Hence, this injector tip fuel wetting process and influences on this process need to be analyzed and understood to reduce engine-out particulate emissions. The present work analyzes the injector tip wetting process in an experimental way with a high-speed and high-resolution measurement system at an optically accessible pressure chamber. The performed measurements reveal that injector tip wetting can occur during the complete injection event by different mechanisms. Large spray cone angles at start and at end of injection or distortions of the spray result in direct contact of the fuel spray with the step-hole wall.

Abstract Pressure vessels are critical equipment used in industries for storing liquids or gases at a pressure significantly different from ambient conditions. Porosity is one of the major weld defects in pressure vessels that leads to failure during inspection and as well as during its service. Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process is widely used in industries to fabricate pressure vessels using carbon steel “IS 2062 E250BR” material for storing compressed air. The main objective of this article is to reduce the porosity defect in the longitudinal seam (LS) welding of the pressure vessels. Detailed analysis is carried out to identify the parameters which are influencing the porosity defect. Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approaches are used to find the optimum value of the weld parameters which produce weld without porosity or any major defects in the pressure vessel.

Abstract With the introduction of particulate matter emissions regulations for gasoline engines, most car manufacturers are considering using gasoline particulate filters (GPFs). Although very similar to diesel particulate filters (DPFs), GPFs operate at higher temperatures and generally have thinner monolith walls. In order to estimate the pressure loss through the filter, filter wall permeability is needed. This presents a number of challenges since wall losses cannot be efficiently isolated from other losses in a full-scale filter or filter core. Thin wall wafers have been used for DPF characterization. However, GPF wafers are generally thinner, which makes the testing less straightforward. This article presents a novel effective methodology for estimation of GPF wall permeability using thin wafers cut from the filter monolith. Both cold and hot flow permeabilities can be estimated, which allows to account for the change of apparent permeability due to the slip effect.

Abstract A rapid compression and expansion machine (RCEM) was used to experimentally investigate the ignition phenomena of dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) in engine conditions. The effect of elevated pressure and temperature on ignition phenomena of a methane/air premixed mixture was investigated using a DBD igniter. The equivalence ratio was changed to elucidate the impact of DBD on flame kernel development. High-speed imaging of natural light and OH* chemiluminescence enabled visualization of discharges and flame kernel. According to experimental findings, the discharges become concentrated and the intensity increases as the pressure and temperature rise. Under different equivalence ratios, the spark ignition (SI) system has a shorter flame development time (FDT) as compared with the DBD ignition system.

Abstract The use of Abrasive Water Jet (AWJ) cutting technology can improve the edge stretchability in sheet metal forming. The advances in technology have allowed significant increases in working speeds and pressures, reducing the AWJ operation cost. The main objective of this work was to determine the effect of selected AWJ cutting parameters on the Hole Expansion Ratio (HER) for a DP800 (Dual-Phase) Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) with s0 = 1.2 mm by using a fractional factorial design of experiments for the Hole Expansion Tests (HET). Additionally, the surface roughness and residual stresses were measured on the holes looking for a possible relation between them and the measured HER. A deep drawing quality steel DC06 with s0 = 1.0 mm was used for reference. The fracture occurrence was captured by high-speed cameras and by Acoustic Emissions (AE) in order to compare both methods.

Abstract Knock has been studied by internal combustion engine researchers for well over a century. It remains perhaps the main limit on spark-ignition engine efficiency today. In an engine development environment, knock is typically described through quantification of the high-frequency signal content of cylinder pressure measurements. A cylinder pressure transducer gives a point measurement in the combustion chamber volume. In non-knocking combustion cycles, there is little pressure variation across the chamber; hence, this point measurement adequately represents the average gas pressure acting on the piston. This is not the case for knock where autoignition leads to strong pressure gradients and standing wave behavior or even supersonic shock wave propagation. The resulting pressure signal is complex to interpret.

Abstract It is reasonable to use a two-phase heat transfer loop (TPL) in a thermal control system (TCS) of spacecraft with large heat dissipation. One of the key elements of TPL is a heat-controlled accumulator (HCA). The HCA represents a volume which is filled with vapor and liquid of a single working fluid without bellows. The pressure in a HCA is controlled by the heater. The heat and mass transfer processes in the HCA can proceed with a significant nonequilibrium. This has implications on the regulation of TPL. This article presents a mathematical model of nonequilibrium heat and mass transfer processes in an HCA for microgravity conditions. The model uses the equations of mass and energy conservation separately for the vapor and liquid phases. Interfacial heat and mass transfer is also taken into account. It proposes to use the convective component k for the level of nonequilibrium evaluation.

Abstract The mathematics required to design and analyze turbomachinery were gathered from many sources and presented in its entirety as a single source, step-by-step procedure. An impeller was then designed and analyzed. A one-dimensional (1D) model explains the mathematics for performance in detail. The 1D model lacked the ability to predict flow-related phenomena such as flow surge but highlighted the direct connection between blade angle and rotation direction with pressure rise and efficiency. For the present study, positive blade angles pointing in the direction of rotation (clockwise in the present study) provided higher pressure rise and higher losses. Negative blade angles pointing in the opposite direction of rotation (counterclockwise in the present study) resulted in lower pressure rise and lower losses. Flow surge was studied with a three-dimensional (3D) model.

Abstract An experiment has been developed to investigate the passive pre-chamber jet ignition process in gasoline engine configurations and low-load operating conditions. The apparatus adopted a modified 4-cylinder 2.0L gasoline engine to enable single-cylinder operation. To reduce the complexity, the piston position was fixed at a predefined position relative to the top dead center (TDC) to simulate thermodynamic conditions at ignition and injection timings. High-speed Infrared (IR) imaging was applied to visualize the jet penetration and ignition process inside the main cylinder and to investigate the cyclic spatial variability. Two passive pre-chambers with different total nozzle areas and numbers of nozzles were used. In addition, the pre-chamber volume and pressure at ignition timing were varied to examine their effect on jet ignition performance.

Abstract The simulation of lubricating pumps for internal combustion engines has always represented a challenge due to the high aeration level of the working fluid. In fact, the delivery pressure ripple is highly influenced by the effective fluid bulk modulus, which is significantly reduced by the presence of separated air. This paper presents a detailed lumped parameter model of a variable displacement vane pump with a two-level pressure setting, in which the fluid model takes into account the dynamics of release and dissolution of the air in the oil. The pump was modelled in the LMS Imagine.Lab Amesim® environment through customized libraries for the evaluation of the main geometric features. The model was validated experimentally in terms of pressure oscillations in conditions of low and high aeration. The fraction of separated air in the reservoir of the test rig was measured by means of an X-ray technique.