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Flexibility, oil resistance, and the need for heat resistance to 150°C-plus temperatures have traditionally limited automotive design engineers to two options - thermoset rubber or heat-shielding conventional thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Both of these options present limitations in part design, the ability to consolidate the number of components in a part of assembly, and on total cost. This paper presents a class of high-performance, flexible thermoplastic elastomers based on dynamically vulcanized polyacrylate (ACM) elastomer dispersed in a continuous matrix of polyamide (PA) thermoplastic. These materials are capable of sustained heat resistance to 150°C and short-term heat resistance to 175°C, without requiring heat shielding. Recent advancements in blow molding and functional testing of the PA//ACM TPEs for automotive air management (ducts) and underhood sealing applications will be shown.

THE development of the two-stage torque converter with automatic double clutch is presented here. The author covers particularly the substitution of casting for fabrication for several of the units in the transmission.

This paper describes the engineering, manufacturing and integration necessary to produce the Corvette's first ever all-aluminum spaceframe (see Figure 1). The engineering and manufacturing of the spaceframe was a joint venture between General Motors and suppliers ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America) and Dana Corporation. ALCOA led the initial design of the spaceframe; Dana Corp led the manufacturing; General Motors' Engineering and Manufacturing groups led the integration of the assembly. The aluminum spaceframe design is modeled after the baseline steel structure of the Corvette coupe. The aluminum spaceframe reduces 140 lbs from the steel baseline and enters the plant at 285 lbs. This frame allows the 2006 Corvette Z06 to enter the market at a 3100 lbs curb weight. Aluminum casting, extruding, stamping, hydroforming, laser welding, Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding, Self Pierce Riveting (SPR), and full spaceframe machining make up the main technologies used to produce this spaceframe.

The General Motors (GM) Corvette design team was challenged with providing a C6 Z06 vehicle spaceframe that maintained the structural performance of its C5 predecessor while reducing mass by at least 56 kg. An additional requirement inherent to the project was that the design must be integrated into the C6 assembly processes with minimal disruption, i.e. seamless integration. In response to this challenge, a collaborative team was formed, consisting of design engineers from General Motors, Alcoa and Dana Corporation. The result of this collaborative effort is an aluminum Z06 spaceframe that satisfies the high performance expectations of the vehicle while reducing the mass by approximately 62 kg. The frame consists of aluminum extrusions, castings and sheets joined by MIG welding, laser welding and self-piercing rivets. The extrusions are 6XXX series alloys, the castings are permanent mold A356 while the sheet panels are formed from the 5XXX series of alloys.

The engine designer has to find novel methods to optimize the engine efficiency faster as the engine development cycle is getting shortened due to the continuous growing market demands. Engine optimization involves fine tuning of the various engine parameters and conducting a large number of tests on actual engine test bed. In this paper, modern techniques that have been used to optimize a small 4stroke air-cooled engine performance have been described. The engine has been modelled using one-dimensional thermodynamic engine modelling software (AVL-BOOST). Design of experiments (DoE) tools have been used to optimize the engine variables. The input parameters form an orthogonal array of L27 matrix and the out put characteristics of the engine (responses) have been predicted by using BOOST software. This design matrix has been used to study and optimize thirteen factors in three levels (313).

Hayes Lemmerz has pursued fin configurations in straight and curved fin rotors to achieve high airflow velocity. The largest increase in airflow velocity of 37.2% is achieved by curving fins to a specific entry and exit angle and increasing surface area by increasing fin number. There is a need for funneling air into the narrow entry in the hub area. The new “Hayes Air Director” successfully channels air into the curved fins. Hayes Lemmerz is in the process of casting rotors with curved fins and the air director idea. Dynamometer and vehicle tests will follow. The current renwood model of the rotor design shows 34.8 to 37.2% increase in airflow velocity when tested on the Hayes Airflow machine.

The existing market conditions place heavy demands on the steel foundries to increase their capacity and output. Expansion hinges on the ability of the foundry to “earn the dollar” to permit the modernization of existing facilities and construction of new plants. It also requires that the foundry industry modernize its production methods and techniques; update its equipment; and that the consumer engineer assist in developing casting design features that will be more readily adaptable to the capabilities of the foundry operation. “A Bigger Payload from Steel Foundries” requires more than physical expansion-it demands cooperative and intelligent endeavor on the part of foundry management and consumer engineering.

This paper presents a multidimensional approach to the hydraulic components design by means of an open-source fluid dynamics code. A preliminary study of a basic geometry was carried out by simulating the efflux of an incompressible fluid through circular pipes. Both laminar and turbulent conditions were analyzed and the influence of the grid resolution and modeling settings were investigated. A qualitative description of the internal flow-field distribution, and a quantitative comparison of pressure and velocity profiles along the pipe axis were used to asses the multidimensional open-source code capabilities. Moreover the results were compared with the experimental measurements available in literature and with the theoretical trends which can be found in well-known literature fundamentals (Hagen-Poiseuille theory and Nikuradse interpolation). Further comparison was performed by using a commercial CFD code.

During the last several years the use of magnesium die-castings for automotive applications has been on the rise. Magnesium's use in die-cast form has been expanding at an average growth rate of more than 15% a year. Reasons for the increase are both practical and economic. Magnesium die-castings offer components having the lowest mass when compared to almost any other structural material. Magnesium die-alloys exhibit properties that bridge the gap between engineered plastics and metals. The mechanical performance ratios (strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight) of magnesium also compete favorably with metals and plastics. Economically, magnesium alloys prices have fallen during the last several years making them extremely competitive with other materials.

The demand for vehicles with improved NVH characteristics, fuel economy and emissions control has increased dramatically in recent years. To meet these objectives stiffer and lighter housings are required so as to avoid troublesome driveline vibrations, while at the same time produce lighter structures to reduce the overall vehicle weight and improved fuel economy. A feasibility study was undertaken to examine the differences between the use of magnesium alloy and aluminium alloy for an automatic transmission converter housing. The design process, design constraints, design methodology, alloy selection and some unique magnesium design requirements are outlined. The differences between the two designs are investigated by simulating their static and dynamic performances using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). A sand cast prototype was produced for the first stage of the feasibility study, with the ultimate aim to produce die cast magnesium converter housings if feasible.

A drag dynamometer was used to evaluate the performance of automotive brake drums made from four kinds of materials with different thermal conductivities. In the order of decreasing thermal conductivity they are chromium copper, aluminum/cast iron composite, cast iron, and nickel-aluminum bronze. All of the drums were of the standard configuration used in SAE J 661a, or closely approximated it. The drums were run in conjunction with three types of lining materials: nonabrasive, moderately abrasive, and highly abrasive. Temperatures near the lining/drum interface, coefficients of friction, and lining wear were measured and compared. For a given amount of work done, the temperature near the drum surface was found to be lowest for the chromium copper drums, with progressively higher temperatures in the aluminum/cast iron composite, nickel-aluminum bronze, and cast iron drums. Relative lining wear and coefficient of friction varied with the type of lining tested.

In automotive body manufacturing the dies for blanking/trimming/piercing are under most severe loading condition involving high contact stress at high impact loading and large number of cycles. With continuous increase in sheet metal strength, the trim die service life becomes a great concern for industries. In this study, competing trim die manufacturing routes were compared, including die raw materials produced by hot-working (wrought) vs. casting, edge-welding (as repaired condition) vs. bulk base metals (representing new tools), and the heat treatment method by induction hardening vs. furnace through-heating. CaldieTM, a Uddeholm trademarked grade was used as trim die material. The mechanical tests are performed using a WSU developed trimming simulator, with fatigue loading applied at cubic die specimen’s cutting edges through a tungsten carbide rod to accelerate the trim edge damage. The tests are periodically interrupted at specified cycles for measurement of die edge damage.

This paper describes an investigation on microstructures as well as mechanical properties of pure aluminium graphene nano platelets (GNPs) metal matrix composites prepared via novel based stir casting technique combined with ultrasonic treatment. The proportion of graphene changes from 0.5 to 2.0 wt. % in aluminium with 99% purity. The investigations on composites revealed that Al with combination of 1.0 % graphene composite showcased enhanced mechanical properties with 48.49 % (~49%) increase in tensile strength and 34.53 % (~35%) increase in micro hardness compared to test results of composites produced by traditional stir casting technique. FESEM analysis was done to examine the surface morphology of produced composite and fracture surface of tested composites where as XRD analysis was to inspect the phase analysis of produced composites.

Two different aluminium alloy materials have been used to produce ventilated brake discs, on one hand, AS17G0.6 hypereutectic alloy and on the other hand, AS7G0.6 reinforced with 20% in wt. of SiC particles. The casting production technique used has been Low Pressure Casting (LPC) and some of the brake discs have been heat treated using a T6 treatment. Once the ventilated brake discs were produced and machined, they were tested in a dynamometer in order to compare the performance under service conditions of the aluminum alloy and grey cast iron (GCI) discs currently used in the market.

Interest in ductile, tough magnesium alloys has been stimulated by designers seeking lightweight, efficient steering control structures. The simultaneous need for deformable, energy-absorbing components redirected metallurgists to consider the impact behavior of “high-ductility”, AM-series, magnesium alloys. This paper provides a comparison between the “workhorse” AZ91D magnesium alloy and the less-common, AM60B alloy. Specific application to a steering column bracket illustrates the development processes involved in selecting the appropriate alloy.

“Today, wearing parts are regularly subjected to abnormal loading conditions. They must be able to accept these conditions without failure. In continuous operations, unscheduled downtime greatly increases maintenance costs, not to mention the cost of lost production. White iron castings offer premium abrasion resistance for many of these applications, but are often not used due to the possibility of brittle failure and the difficulty of mechanical attachment. This paper discusses the properties and applications of a composite of martensitic white iron and mild steel. This laminate will accept medium to high impact without loss of service failure, and can be installed by mechanical means or with welded attachment.”

The contribution that aged hardware makes to performance deterioration is of interest to operators of JT3D turbofan powered aircraft since a significant percentage of these engines have exceeded 20,000 hr of operation. Recent studies involving numerous engine disassemblies, rebuild, and test cell runs reveal the most significant effects of aged hardware are the loss in high and/or low compressor stall margin; and, that a large number of parts must be replaced to realize a significant improvement in fuel consumption, with the exception of the reduction that can be obtained by controlling turbine seal clearances.

In an earlier paper, a series of comparison tests were described that verified the cost/performance advantage of die-cast zinc over five unreinforced, engineering thermoplastics in tension, flexure, creep, impact, and fatigue when compared under identical test procedures and specimen geometries as dictated by plastics industry standards. Additional tests showed the superiority of die-cast zinc over these same thermoplastics in regard to thread strength, dimensional stability, heat distortion, weathering, flammability, and chemical stress cracking. This paper reports on a continuation of these same series of test procedures where die-cast zinc is compared with six 40% glass-reinforced thermoplastics. Again the results continue to show the cost/performance superiority of die-cast zinc over the reinforced thermoplastics tested.

Lithium ion batteries are the most promising candidates for electric and hybrid electric vehicles, owe to their ability to store higher electrical energy. As a matter of fact, in automotive applications, these batteries undergo frequent and fast charge and discharge processes, which are associated to internal heat generation, which in turns causes temperature increase. Thermal management is therefore crucial to keep temperature in an appropriate level for safe operation and battery wear prevention. In a recent work authors have already demonstrated the capabilities of a coupled lattice Boltzmann-Finite Volume Method to deal with thermal transient of a three-dimensional air-cooled Li-ion battery at different discharging rates and Reynolds numbers. Here, in order to improve discharge thermal capabilities and reduce temperature levels of the battery itself, a layer of porous medium is placed in contact with the battery so to replace a continuum solid aluminum layer.

The classical use for zinc alloy die castings for plated trim and non-structural applications is being supplemented with new engineered applications. New alloys such as ZA-27 offer higher strengths than #3, which when combined with cost effective, net shape capability of the die casting process provide new opportunities in automotive component design. A systematic design strategy must, however, become part of the product design process. This strategy, by evaluating mechanical and physical properties of the material against use requirements, offers the best methodology for new and replacement applications.