To reduce the environmental impact of mechanical parts, an approach integrating structural design and material selection was studied. Adding the discrete variable of material, a hybrid optimization model was built with the aim of minimizing environmental impact and based on an ordinary structure optimization model. An optional material set was built by combining measures of qualitative and quantitative screening, while the lifecycle environmental impact of the materials was quantified using the method of Eco-indicator 99. Two groups of structurally optimal solutions were calculated with ideal and negative-ideal materials selected respectively, and then the hybrid model was simplified by comparing the solutions. A material environmental performance index was calculated using an analytic method. By comparing this index for every material in the optional material set, the optimal material can be found and the structural solutions calculated. This method was applied to a dowel bar design process as a case study. The results show that the environmental impact of each material has a significant effect on the optimal structural solution, and it is necessary to study the integration of structural design and material selection.

A significant temperature raise within hydrogen vehicle cylinder during the fast filling process will be observed, while the strength and fatigue life of the cylinder will dramatically decrease at high temperature. In order to evaluate the strength and fatigue of composite hydrogen storage vessel, a 70-MPa fatigue test system using hydrogen medium was set up. Experimental study on the fatigue of composite hydrogen storage vessels under real hydrogen environment was performed. The experimental results show that the ultimate strength and fatigue life both decreased obviously compared with the values under hydraulic fatigue test. Furthermore, fatigue property, failure behavior, and safe hydrogen charging/discharging working mode of onboard hydrogen storage vessels were obtained through the fatigue tests.

This paper presents the development of a proportional-integral-derivative (PID)-based control method for application to active vehicle suspension systems (AVSS). This method uses an inner PID hydraulic actuator force control loop, in combination with an outer PID suspension travel control loop, to control a nonlinear half-car AVSS. Robustness to model uncertainty in the form of variation in suspension damping is tested, comparing performance of the AVSS with a passive vehicle suspension system (PVSS), with similar model parameters. Spectral analysis of suspension system model output data, obtained by performing a road input disturbance frequency sweep, provides frequency response plots for both nonlinear vehicle suspension systems and time domain vehicle responses to a sinusoidal road input disturbance on a smooth road. The results show the greater robustness of the AVSS over the PVSS to parametric uncertainty in the frequency and time domains.

A cooling system consisting of several heat exchange modules is a necessary part of an automobile, and its performance has a direct effect on a vehicle’s energy consumption. Heat exchangers, such as a charged air cooler (CAC), radiator, oil cooler, or condenser have different structures and can be arranged in various orders, and each combination may produce different effects because of interactions among them. In this study, we aimed to explore the principles governing interactions among adjacent heat exchangers in a cooling system, using numerical simulation and experimental technology. 3D models with different combinations were developed, compared, and analyzed comprehensively. A wind tunnel test platform was constructed to validate the computational results. We found that the heat dissipation of the modules was affected slightly by their relative position (the rules basically comply with the field synergy principle), but was independent of the modules’ spacing within a certain distance range. The heat dissipation of one module could be effectively improved by restructuring, but with a penalty of higher resistance. However, the negative effect on the downstream module was much less than expected. The results indicated that the intensity of heat transfer depends not only on the average temperature difference between cold and hot mediums, but also on the temperature distribution.

Compression and expansion of a working gas due to the pressure oscillation of an oscillating flow can lead to a temperature variation of the working gas, which will affect the heat transfer in the oscillating flow. This study focuses on the impact of the compression-expansion effect, indicated by the pressure ratio, on the heat transfer in a finned heat exchanger under practical operating conditions of the ambient-temperature heat exchangers in Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerators. The experimental results summarized as the Nusselt number are presented for analysis. An increase in the pressure ratio can result in a marked rise in the Nusselt number, which indicates that the compression-expansion effect should be considered in characterizing the heat transfer of the oscillating flow, especially in the cases with a higher Valensi number and a lower maximum Reynolds number.

Based on the non-Darcian flow law described by exponent m and threshold gradient i₁ under a low hydraulic gradient and the classical nonlinear relationships e-lgσ′ and e-lgk_v (Mesri and Rokhsar, 1974), the governing equation of 1D nonlinear consolidation was modified by considering both uniform distribution of self-weight stress and linear increment of self-weight stress. The numerical solutions for the governing equation were derived by the finite difference method (FDM). Moreover, the solutions were verified by comparing the numerical results with those by analytical method under a specific case. Finally, consolidation behavior under different parameters was investigated, and the results show that the rate of 1D nonlinear consolidation will slow down when the non-Darcian flow law is considered. The consolidation rate with linear increment of self-weight stress is faster than that with uniform distribution one. Compared to Darcy’s flow law, the influence of parameters describing non-linearity of soft soil on consolidation behavior with non-Darcian flow has no significant change.

A high-speed train-track coupling dynamic model is used to investigate the dynamic behavior of a high-speed train operating on a curved track with failed fasteners. The model considers a high-speed train consisting of eight vehicles coupled with a ballasted track. The vehicle is modeled as a multi-body system, and the rail is modeled with a Timoshenko beam resting on the discrete sleepers. The vehicle model considers the effect of the end connections of the neighboring vehicles on the dynamic behavior. The track model takes into account the lateral, vertical, and torsional deformations of the rails and the effect of the discrete sleeper support on the coupling dynamics of the vehicles and the track. The sleepers are assumed to move backward at a constant speed to simulate the vehicle running along the track at the same speed. The train model couples with the track model by using a Hertzian contact model for the wheel/rail normal force calculation, and the nonlinear creep theory by Shen et al. (1984) is used for wheel/rail tangent force calculation. In the analysis, a curved track of 7000-m radius with failed fasteners is selected, and the effects of train operational speed and the number of failed fasteners on the dynamic behaviors of the train and the track are investigated in detail. Furthermore, the wheel/rail forces and derailment coefficient and the wheelset loading reduction are analyzed when the high-speed train passes over the curved track with the different number of continuously failed fasteners at different operational speeds. Through the detailed numerical analysis, it is found that the high-speed train can operate normally on the curved track of 7000-m radius at the speeds of 200 km/h to 350 km/h.