A Full Vehicle Engine Test Cell Model for Simulation Based Development

Due to the increasing complexity of modern systems, demands for a reduced time to market, lower costs and more rapid product evolution use is made of simulation methods in engineering development. An executable dynamic simulation model may be used to define a complex system from which engineers can observe system behavior and make decisions based on better quality information thus coordinating development efforts more effectively.

This work presents two models, both real time capable; a test cell model and a vehicle and driver model with a well defined architecture that helps facilitate Simulation Based Development (SBD) efforts relating to powertrain and drivetrain development. The models are created with a well defined architecture (Flexible Architecture for Simulation Based Development) and run (simulated) through the NEDC and US06 drive cycles. The driver and throttle/throttle controller are shown to successfully modulate the vehicle/engine, dynamometer/engine inputs such that the simulated effective vehicle adheres to the demand speed of the two drive cycles. It is shown that in spite of a near identical vehicle speed between the two models that the operating conditions experienced by the engine-in-vehicle are very different to those of the engine-in-cell.