Automotive Engineering Commons^™

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Leasing Versus Buying Air Force General Purpose Vehicles In The Continental United States, Robert J. Neal Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Given the increasingly aging vehicle fleet and declining vehicle budget, this research performed a cost-benefit analysis of leasing versus buying various Air Force general purpose vehicles for the entire continental United States (CONUS). In contrast to previous analyses, which have examined the leasing versus buying issue on a base-by-base basis, this analysis studies the issue from an Air Force-wide perspective using a cost-buying model. Costs and benefits are calculated for three purchasing options (Air Force ownership, GSA leasing, and commercial leasing) to determine and recommend the best alternative for the Air Force. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is to test the …

An Investigation Into The Skills Needed For The Workforce In The Year 2005 For Midwest Manufacturing, George A. Ritland

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to define the collaborative skills identified by John Deere and provide the personnel who are involved in the hiring process at John Deere those results in order to assist them in evaluating potential employees for employment in the year 2005.

An Introduction To Web-Based Training For Statistical Process Control (Spc), Richard A. Juel

Graduate Research Papers

John Deere Waterloo Works had been using statistical process control in its manufacturing and assembly operations since the mid-nineteen seventies. Over the years this process had evolved from using hand-written paper control charts to using computer devices to collect data and generate charts. A variety of computer hardware and software products were being used. Training on statistical concepts and use of the various devices had deteriorated to the point that it was no longer a formal process. SPC training passed from one employee to another in the course of break-in to perform a specific job.

A team had been formed …

An Evaluation Of John Deere Waterloo Works Internal Quality System Audit Process With Recommendations For Improving Its Effectiveness, Karl J. Bultsma Sr.

Graduate Research Papers

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the internal quality system audit process at the John Deere Waterloo Works. This evaluation is necessary to identify improvements to ensure continued quality system registration and make the auditing process as efficient and effective as possible for improved business performance.

Oil Consumption Measurements Of A Production Engine Using The Sulfur-Trace Method, Verlyn Royal Benson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Controlling the oil consumption of diesel engines is important for customer satisfaction. Existing oil consumption measurement methods are adequate; however, improved methods offer the possibility of faster and more comprehensive results. The sulfur-trace method is an example.

Major objectives of this investigation were to adopt a sulfur-trace analyzer for oil consumption measurements, to improve the oil consumption measurement process, and to demonstrate application of the sulfur-trace instrument to individual cylinder sampling. To achieve these objectives, four research questions were applied:

1. What procedures and attention to detail are required?
2. How can results be reported to maximize data interpretation?
3. How do the …

The Development Of Training And Practice Of Navigation For Advanced Ships : Application To Merchant Marine Training Centre Programmes In Thailand, Thiti Tingmai

World Maritime University Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of an advanced ship, focusing on the training needs for a navigation officer by taking into consideration technological advances, operational factors and human factors. A short overview is given of current and future trends, and developments in modem technology in shipping including an advanced bridge in the form of an integrated bridge system. The role of the navigator, bridge operational procedures and conditions, and training needs are examined, taking into account manning and technological change that have taken place. The required knowledge, skills and attitude for an operator of advanced ships are identified. The importance …

Minimizing Post-Production Weight Growth In Tanks Using A Decision Analysis Model, Michael F. Cochrane

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Post-production weight growth of tanks is an historic problem for the military. Tanks are difficult to transport because of their weight, and post-production modifications tend to cause this weight to increase over the lifecycle of the tank. In this thesis, a computer model is constructed which uses influence diagrams to model tank weight growth as a probabilistic process. Historical weight data for the MI Abrams tank program is used to derive probabilities for the model. The model is used to predict tank weight growth over both the short and long term with the goal of understanding more about how and …

A Feasibility Study Of Fuel Cell Cogeneration In Industry, Scott B. Phelps, J. Kelly Kissock

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Up until now, most of the literature on fuel cell cogeneration describes cogeneration at commercial sites. In this study, a PC25C phosphoric acid fuel cell cogeneration system was designed for an industrial facility and an economic analysis was performed. The US DOE Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) database was examined to determine what industry considers a good investment for energy saving measures. Finally, the results of the cogeneration analysis and database investigation were used to project the conditions in which the PC25C might be accepted by industry.

Analysis of IAC database revealed that energy conservation recommendations with simple paybacks as high …

High-Speed Craft (Hsc) : A Study Of Their Safe Operation And Navigation, And Their Impact Upon The Malacca Strait, Lim Yew Seng

World Maritime University Dissertations

The dissertation is a study of the safe operation and navigation of High-speed Craft (HSC) and their impact upon the Malacca Strait. The definitions of HSC are compared and illustrated. The future trend, growth and development of current types of HSC and their inherent design limitations are investigated. The maneuvering systems and characteristics of HSC are analyzed. The active safety system employed by HSC is compared to the passive safety system of conventional vessels. The operation and navigation problems due to high-speed are investigated. The human resource management methods of reducing human errors are discussed. The navigational requirements of the …

Application Of Reanalysis Techniques For Pattern Design Of Spot Welds, Young San Kim

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Extensive benchmarking on competitive cars has shown that the durability of vehicles, assembly-induced variations, and assembly cost are directly related to the quality and number of spot welds. On most luxury cars, approximately 4,500 to 5,000 spot welds are found. On less expensive cars, the range is from 3,500 to 4,500. These cars usually inherit more noise, rattles, squeaks, and other quality-related problems. These problems have motivated the search for a new capability to systematically place welds in the most critical areas, with a minimum number of welds for car bodies, while satisfying all performance requirements (e.g., stiffness, stress distribution, …

Application Of Mixed-Norm Optimal Control To A Multi-Objective Active Suspension Problem, John B. Allison

Theses and Dissertations

Mixed norm optimal control synthesis is used to solve a multiobjective suspension problem. The objective is to develop a controller for an active suspension system onboard a tractor semitrailer vehicle. The problem is first approached by using H₂ and H∞ optimization. It is shown that by combining both techniques into one mixed norm optimization method, it is possible to exploit the strengths of each norm to provide superior performance. Two H₂/H∞ designs were completed. One design concentrated on optimal performance at one design condition. The second design concentrated on providing the best performance possible at a medium …

The Characteristics Of Agile Manufacturing That Can Be Implemented In The Manufacture Of Agricultural Equipment, Irvin L. Wilhelms

Graduate Research Papers

The problem of this study was to determine the characteristics of agile manufacturing and their applicability to a manufacturer of heavy agricultural equipment.

Vehicle Maintenance Pollution Prevention, University Of Northern Iowa. Small Business Pollution Prevention Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Book Gallery

Pollution prevention can be defined as: "The use of materials, processes, or practices that reduces or eliminates the creation of pollutants or wastes at the source.” (EPA) Pollution prevention represents a shift away from the old school of thought, “pollution control,” in which waste was not dealt with until after it was generated. Through pollution prevention, we look at the processes that generate the waste to see if we can avoid creating a waste in the first place, or at least reduce the hazardous nature of the waste. When this is not possible, the next best solution to prevent wastes …

Obligations And Penalties Under Lemon Laws: Automobiles Versus Tractors, Terence J. Centner, Michael E. Wetzstein

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Distinctive new provisions of tractor lemon laws which create obligations and provide penalties for defective self-propelled agricultural equipment are contrasted with provisions of automobile lemon laws. Lemon-law obligations involve both producers' guarantees to provide consumers with a serviceable vehicle and producers' promises to remedy defects. Due to fewer manufacturer obligations under the tractor lemon laws as opposed to automobile lemon laws, tractors may be expected to have more defects than automobiles. Yet the tractor lemon laws contain fewer penalties in the form of restitution remedies. The inconsistences of these obligations and penalties suggest tractor laws may be inefficient.

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Fuel Injection Nozzle Roto Flow And Hydra Flow And The Engine Torque Of A Diesel Engine, Guang Jin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of reducing diesel engine torque variation by optimizing fuel injection nozzle tip configuration. In order to reduce engine torque variation, test runs were conducted to determine whether fuel injection nozzles affected diesel engine torque. There was a further effort to determine whether a correlation existed between the fuel injection nozzle roto flow and hydra flow, and the engine torque at specified engine speeds.

Engines installed in cotton pickers and tractors were used for this study. Engines, five from the cotton picker and five from the tractor group were chosen randomly …

Mat Forming Apparatus, Bernard C. H. Sun

Michigan Tech Patents

Mat forming apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow material transporting member, drive structure for producing a pressure differential across spaced portions of the transporting member so that material is propelled from one of the spaced portions to the other within the hollow transporting member, material directing structure communicating with the drive structure for receiving material from the hollow transporting structure and, responsive to the drive structure, operative to direct the received material in a predetermined path, the hollow transporting member having a non-linear inner surface so that flow in the hollow transporting member is turbulent causing the material being transported …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Modeling Brigade Templates In Camex, Douglas A. Hersh

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis effort modeled brigade-sized templates within the CAMEX model, and determined the effects of those templates on the direct fire attrition methodology. The model simulated combat between a U.S. brigade from a mechanized or armored division and a Soviet-style motorized rifle regiment. Three different scenarios were used to simulate combat between the forces. The scenarios included a movement to contact, an attack, and a deliberate defense. Each scenario was run using the battalion-sized templates and again with the brigade-sized templates. The results revealed that use of the model with brigade-sized templates will demonstrate similar results to those obtained using …

Emissions Studies For A Natural Gas-Fired Internal Combustion Engine, Carlos M. Buitrago

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Since 1991, a University owned truck has been operating with natural gas. In order to improve emissions performance a different fuel management strategy was developed. With the help of Siemens Automotive in Newport News, VA, a liquid fuel injector was modified to handle natural gas. The basic engine was tested to determine the benefits in emissions that the multi-point injection system can have over the single point injection system that had been used previously. Pre-catalyst, raw exhaust-gas data for the more important pollutants were taken and analyzed in both systems under different loads and intake manifold pressures. In addition, to …

A Study Of The Manufacturing Costs Of Grille And Side Screens On John Deere Tractors, John M. Beierschmitt

Graduate Research Papers

The problem discussed in this paper was the development of a process for the manufacture of a new, low cost, quality grille screen that previously had been made on conventional tooling, and now can not be made with the conventional process or tooling. The research comparison in this paper was done to show the financial advantage of this type of tooling.

Large Capacity Missile Carrier (Cmx), C. N. Calvano, J. M. Berner, J. M. Bradley, K. A. Tosiello, D. T. Hooker, C. F. Merrill

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

A systems engineering approach to the development of a radically different kind of surface combatant ship is presented, followed by a preliminary design of the ship shown by the analysis to be most effective. The requirement for the project was the development of a ship which would provide a major increase in the missile firepower of a battlegroup. The study conducts an analysis of four warfare scenarios and evaluates the effectiveness of replacing some Aegis ships with the missile carrier (CMX) and examines the relative utility of varying missile loads for the CMX. An alternative is chosen for further development …

Laser Doppler Velocimetry Research Of The Blowby Gas Characteristics In An Internal Combustion Engine, Mark Kevin Coffill

Masters Theses

The project was designed to measure a reciprocating engine fluid flow (blowby gases past the piston rings) using a laser doppler velocimeter (LDV). Blowby gases were obtained by introducing compressed air into an engine cylinder (piston held at TDC) to simulate engine combustion pressures. Beginning the proposed research included starting an LDV/reciprocating engine laboratory at Western Michigan University and determining the limits of the measurement devices (LDV system in particular).

The limitations which were found in the LDV system only allowed for limited results of in cylinder optical measurements. The results obtained were for cylinder pressures below 0.6 kPa gauge …

Book Review, Allan M. Wheatcraft

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Review of the following: LEONARD EVANS, TRAFFIC SAFETY AND THE DRIVER. (Van Nostrand Reinhold 1991) [404 pp.] About the author, author index, figures, notes, preface, subject index, tables. LC 90-44233, ISBN 0-4421-00163-0. [Cloth $51.95. P.O.B. 668, Florence KY 41022-0668.]

Apparatus For Measuring The Temperature Of A Piston In An Internal Combustion Engine, Carl L. Anderson, Glen L. Barna, Douglas B. Brumm

Michigan Tech Patents

An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a piston in an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a thermistor to sense the temperature of the piston and generate an electrical signal representative of that temperature, a transmission unit connected to the thermistor for receiving the electrical signal and for converting the signal to an infrared beam for transmission to a point remote from the piston, and a receiver to receive the beam and convert the beam to an electrical signal corresponding to the electrical signal generated by the thermistor. The first mentioned electrical signal is converted to a rectangular wave …

Shape Sensitivity Analysis And Optimization Of Skeletal Structures And Geometrically Nonlinear Solids, Ching-Hung Chuang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Formulations and computational schemes for shape design sensitivity analysis and optimization have been developed for both skeletal structures and geometrically nonlinear elastic solids. The continuum approach, which is based on the weak variational form of the governing differential equation and the concept of the material derivative, plays a central role in such a development.

In the first part of this work, the eigenvalue and eigenvector sensitivity equations for skeletal structures are derived with respect to configuration variables of joint and support locations. This derivation is done by the domain method as well as the boundary method. The discrete approach for …

An Investigation Into Manufacturing Quality Planning Concepts For New Manufactured Products With Recommendations For John Deere, Michael A. Henning

Graduate Research Papers

President Bush was quoted in 19 90 saying, "The improvement of quality in products and the improvement in services -these are national priorities as never before." (National, 19 9 0). Leadership through quality was also called the new competitive frontier by David Keams, Chief Executive Officer of Xerox Corporation (DeToro, 198 7) and 198 9 winner of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. For a manufacturing organization like Xerox a quality product is the result of many factors. Other corporations have come to the same realization of the importance of quality throughout their operations (Crosby, 19 9 1). He pointed …

The Safety Risks Of Proposed Fuel Economy Legislation, John D. Graham

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Based on, e.g., a comprehensive assessment of what is known of factors influencing automobile safety, previous industry responses to requirements for fuel economy and prior success of regulators in reducing injuries, Professor Graham concludes that pending fuel economy bills are apt to add 1650 fatalities and 8500 serious accidents to the annual highway toll. He also presents several short-term and long-term strategies for simultaneously saving fuel and lives.

An Investigation Of Digital Microprocessor Algorithms In Active Suspension Systems, Toby L. Mcclellan

Graduate Research Papers

The need for knowledge and understanding of these systems at the technician level will increase dramatically as other manufacturers develop production systems in the 90's. Current technical literature on the subject of active and semi-active suspension systems does not well explain a major aspect of these systems, the origin and nature of the control algorithms used. A review of 30 articles and technical papers, and a title search of over 300 others discovered only 2 vague presentations of the actual control logic used in such systems. Furthermore, the control information that was printed was presented in terms of Laplace transforms …

Sahkti Limited, Sanjoy Goel

IIMB Management Review

No abstract provided.

Method And Apparatus For Sensing The Regeneration Of A Diesel Engine Particulate Trap, John H. Johnson, Peter V. Woon

Michigan Tech Patents

A diesel engine exhaust system is provided with a particulate trap for collecting the products of incomplete combustion during the engine power cycle. A sensing mechanism including an electrode downstream of the trap and a signal generating circuit provides a positive indication of occurrence of regeneration of the trap. Charged particles generated during regeneration induce a charge of the electrode, that charge activates the signal generating circuit and it, in turn, produces an indication external of the exhaust system that trap regeneration is occurring. That indication can be in the operator’s compartment.

To The U.S. Department Of Transportation: Comments Of The Environmental Defense Fund On The Secretary Of Transportation’S National Transportation Policy, Robert E. Yuhnke

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

20 pages.