Abstract
Modern society calls for ever-increasing performance improvements from vehicle powerplants. At the same time engineering budgets, both money and time, are being reduced. The development of affordable computing power has allowed engineers to move their creative development work from the test-bench to the software-bench. Predictive design can be combined with trial designs. Combinations allow optimised solutions before metal is cut.
This presentation specifically addresses the use of various Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) techniques to obtain significant improvements in power output performance, the balance of the noise/weight trade-off and improved control systems. The resulting designs have been shown to be better in terms of their specific power and exhaust emissions performance and also provided - based on conventional design approaches - improved radiated noise and engine weight characteristics. By careful optimisation the historical linkage between increasing engine weight in order to reduce radiated noise has been broken.
Advanced modelling techniques - which mimic traditional engineering development methodologies, but employ computer models of virtual engine rather than real test engines - can be used to improve the characteristics of engines and transmissions. These techniques can be used at an early stage in the engine design cycle, to manage and to minimise the risks associated with various design decisions.