fluid power, numerical model, lubrication, virtual prototyping, and axial piston machine

This article presents a novel methodology to design swash plate type axial piston machines based on computationally based approach. The methodology focuses on the design of the main lubricating interfaces present in a swash plate type unit: the cylinder block/valve plate, the piston/cylinder, and the slipper/swash plate interface. These interfaces determine the behavior of the machine in term of energy efficiency and durability. The proposed method couples for the first time the numerical models developed at the authors’ research center for each separated tribological interface in a single optimization framework. The paper details the optimization procedure, the geometry, and material considered for each part. A physical prototype was also built and tested from the optimal results found from the numerical model. Tests were performed at the authors’ lab, confirming the validity of the proposed method.

Fuel injection system, Diesel engine, Injected mass control, and Rapid prototyping hardware

A closed-loop strategy that is capable of controlling the fuel injected mass in the combustion chamber of a Common Rail diesel engine has been set up. The pressure time histories measured along the rail-to-injector pipe have been used to evaluate the instantaneous mass flow-rate entering the injector. This flow-rate has then been integrated between two time instants, and the thus calculated fuel mass has resulted to correlate well with the injected mass.