An Analytical Approach to Automotive Fuel Economy

Citation

Kamins, Milton (1957) An Analytical Approach to Automotive Fuel Economy. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/77ZB-HJ63. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-07142004-142824

Abstract

Experimental data and some fundamental considerations are used to derive mathematical and graphical models of engine behavior relative to fuel consumption. Dimensional analysis of the torque converter permits consolidation of much available information in a compact and useful form. A graphical representation is introduced to represent road friction. Using raw data from engine tests, the power flow through the drive train is followed from engine to rear wheels and the resulting steady-state economy is computed by a combination of analytical and graphical techniques. The results indicate the need for refinement of method or a new approach. The vehicle is now analyzed from the road to the engine, and the apparently complex analysis of the torque converter viewed from the output side is shown to be surprisingly easy to relate to the functional dependences already derived. The results show the expected characteristics and suggest some graphical representations for optimum economy conditions. These in turn show a remarkable peculiarity which leads to a study of non steady state driving technique. It is found that this approach gives superior results over a sizable portion of the road condition spectrum, and eventually four different techniques are advanced as optimum different regions of operation,

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