MSc Funded Theses
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Item Open Access A technical, environmental and economic assessment of future low-carbon heavy-duty powertrain technologies(Cranfield University, 2012-02) Plumb, Colin James; Sherwood, GlennThe development of low-carbon powertrains, to both reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and minimise greenhouse gas emissions, has become a key technological focus for automotive companies. This study investigates, assesses, and critiques future powertrain solutions to determine which technologies demonstrate the ability to both satisfy the environmental requirements while fulfilling the demands of commercial vehicle heavy-duty drive cycles. The implications of low-carbon technologies on the automotive industry are also reviewed. The technologies discussed are identified through; industry research, patent reviews, published low-carbon roadmaps, and academic literature. The internal combustion engine is expected to remain the primary heavy-duty powertrain technology until beyond 2030. Although increased electrification is anticipated, the demands of heavy-duty drive cycles prohibit the use of the current electric and hybrid electric powertrain technologies being developed for light-duty applications. Increasing engine efficiency will remain a key focus of truck and engine manufacturers as the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions becomes a legislative requirement. Waste heat recovery and parasitic loss reduction technologies are expected to be seen on the majority of new truck models. The use of alternative fuels in the existing diesel powertrain offers the fastest route to reducing both GHG and exhaust emissions. Biofuels which can be blended with mineral diesel and easily integrated with the current infrastructure are likely to dominate the alternative fuels market. It is anticipated that over the next 5 to 10 years the choice of automotive fuels will diversify as countries move to utilise local biomass resource and increase their own energy security. Existing technical competencies, strategic assets, and R&D expertise puts established manufacturers in a good position to maintain their market position and also gain competitive advantage in emerging markets as they aim to implement stricter emissions legislation.Item Open Access Analysis of the bird strike reports received by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency between the years 2000 and 2011(Cranfield University, 2013-12) Nikolajeff, Jukka-Pekka; Fewings, RodneyAs soon as people started to fly, bird strikes became a significant safety issue. At present, hundreds of bird strikes are reported every year, and the consequences vary between a scared pilot to a total aircraft hull loss. It has been estimated that the material cost of bird strikes may be more than one billion Euros annually. But in addition, there is the immeasurable cost of losing human lives. How could we fly safely sharing the same sky with the birds? The question is difficult to answer because of the complex reasons why bird strikes happen. The increasing number of flights and growing bird population will also bring new challenges in the future. This thesis approaches the subject by concentrating on the benefits of bird strike reporting in Finland. The thesis reviews all bird strike reports received by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency between the years 2000 and 2011. According to this data, the number of bird strike reports has been increasing significantly during the past few years. Unfortunately, at the same time, the quality of bird strike reports has been decreasing in Finland. Based on the reports analysed, the importance of good bird strike reporting was not yet clear for all stakeholders. The bird species were often poorly identified, and a lot of other valuable data, such as weather details, were frequently missing from bird strike reports. In addition, bird strikes that did not cause any damage were often not reported. This was because bird strike reporting is not yet mandatory in Finland. The aim in bird strike reporting should be better quality and higher frequency than what is currently found in Finland. This could certainly improve aviation safety.Item Open Access Machine vison and scientific imaging for autonomous air vehicles (UAV)(Cranfield University, 2008-09) Jameson, Pierre-Daniel; Cooke, Alastair K.; Hobbs, S. E.This thesis outlines the necessary requirements to determine an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) pose relative to a lead aircraft or target, thus enabling a UAV to successfully follow a lead aircraft or target. The use of Machine Vision for Autonomous navigation has been investigated and two flight scenarios were chosen for analysis. Firstly, following a manoeuvring lead aircraft, and secondly, maintaining a steady heading behind a target/lead aircraft (as would be required for in-flight refuelling). In addition, the author has performed a literature review of current research in this field which is significantly dominated by eventual military requirements in order to improve UAV endurance. In addition, experimental work towards developing a passive vision based navigation system has been undertaken. It is hoped that after further research and development this will lead to an eventual flight trial using the flight dynamics department’s UAV’s. The experimental work has been performed using both equipment and software already available within the department and furthermore, it has enabled an analysis of the department’s currently available capabilities for passive visual navigation to be undertaken. Key points for further work have been outlined for the future advancement of the visual navigation project.Item Open Access The functional role of methylated short tandem repeats in early mouse development(Cranfield University, 2011-08) Deakin, Greg; Bessant, ConradShort tandem repeats, or microsatellites are ubiquitous throughout all genomes that have been explored. In common with other sequences, the DNA in microsatellites has DNA marks in the form of chromatin methylation. Regulation of DNA methylation and changes in their pattern is critical for the establishment of unique cell states throughout development in mammals. DNA methylation is extensively reprogrammed during the early phases of mammalian development to establish unique developmental patterning. Whether microsatellites are also reprogrammed with developmental patterns is unknown. In this thesis, we assessed the characteristics of di- and trinucleotide microsatellites in the NCBIM37 Mus musculus assembly and observed a marked difference in quantity and length of microsatellites of differing motif, not explained by any known mechanism. Secondly we assessed the quantities of di-, tri- and tetranucleotide microsatellites in experimentally determined methylomes of Mus musculus at various stages in development. Our results indicate that at least one tetranucleotide microsatellite motif and more tentatively a second trinucleotide microsatellite follow a pattern of methylation consistent with reprogramming. Finally we show that the genes containing these specific microsatellites in the NCBIM37 genome have strong links to known developmental processes.Item Open Access Feasibility of compost latrines and private sector participation in building and operating compost latrines in urban primary schools(Cranfield University, 2009-09) Chunga, Richard David; Tyrrel, SeanThis research was conducted in Blantyre Urban in Malawi to identify potential markets for human compost and to assess the feasibility of ecological sanitation and private sector participation in building and operating compost latrines in primary schools. In this research, urban farmers, landscape managers and nursery owners were asked to indicate their willingness to pay for human compost. The research revealed that over 70% of urban farmers and tree/flower nursery owners are willing to use human compost and to pay MK350 to MK500 per 50kg bag of human compost. Although there are potential buyers of human compost in Blantyre Urban, the study has shown that it is highly unlikely that entrepreneurs would be motivated to build and operate compost latrines in primary schools because of high investment cost and low returns. The maintenance of latrines in primary schools is under the responsibility of school management committees. However, due to lack of funding, the school management committees are unable to maintain damaged latrines or to build extra latrines. Due to lack of funding for maintenance, 512 flush toilets have been abandoned and 27 pit latrines can’t be fully utilised. The failure of school management committees to maintain damaged latrines or to build extra latrines has resulted into a widespread shortage of latrines in primary schools such that over 120 pupils use a single toilet. Building and operating compost latrines was found to be more profitable to schools than to entrepreneurs because schools receive support for building and operating school latrines. Ecological sanitation could offer urban primary schools an opportunity to improve school sanitation and to generate income by selling human compost.Item Open Access Dynamic simulation of plastic components(Cranfield University, 2008-09) Chong, W. W. F.; Brown, Jason C.The aim of the study was to simulate the dynamic properties of automotive plastic materials for an FE analysis based on the Empirical Method. The study researched into the effects of strain rate and temperature on the stress-strain behavior of the material. The studied plastic material was DYLARK 480P16 produced by NOVA Chemicals. The stress-strain behavior of plastic materials used in the automotive industry was reviewed. The study included a review of the Eyring equation used to correlate the strain rate and temperature effects of the plastic materials. Lastly, the impact properties of plastic materials were briefly discussed in the study. Material models commonly used in the industry to represent plastic materials in LS-DYNA were reviewed. The overviews on Material 24 and Material 187 were presented in this study. The theory and parameters related to the development of these material models were briefly discussed. An overview on the physical tests for the study was included. The physical tests included UNIAXIAL Tensile and Drop Weight Impact tests. Drop Weight Impact test results were provided by Jaguar Cars Limited (JCL) for DYLARK 480P16. The Drop Weight Impact tests were conducted for test temperatures at ambient temperature 85oC and -40oC,. Finite element (FE) models simulating UNIAXIAL Tensile and Drop Weight Impact tests were produced in LS-DYNA. Material 24 was used to simulate DYLARK 480P16. The stress-strain related parameters for the material model were provided by JCL. The parameter of interest for the material model was the effect of Failure Plastic Strain (FPS) value. For Drop Weight Impact tests at temperatures -40oC and 85oC, the stressstrain parameters used for the ambient temperature simulation were scaled based on the Eyring equation and an additional correction factor. All simulation results for the Drop Weight Impact tests showed correlation to physical test results provided by JCL.Item Open Access A strategic assessment of alternative engineering concepts for a low volume sportscar manufacturer to meet european stage II pedestrian head impact legislative requirements(Cranfield University, 2013-02) Caress, John; Marco, J.The Lotus Elite concept car was revealed at the Paris motor show in September 2010 and is a two- door 2+2 Sports Grand Tourer planned to compete in the High Luxury Sportscar vehicle segment and is part of a revolutionary model strategy based on a new platform to revitalise Lotus Cars into a profitable and sustainable business through increased margins and volumes. Future Lotus vehicles will therefore have to comply with any future legislative requirements. These are primarily focussed on vehicle and occupant safety crash performance and these requirements are an important attribute of the proposed Lotus Elite design and development programme. Road traffic fatalities are a worldwide issue according to a report by the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.2 million people lost their lives and 50 million non-fatal injuries were due to Road Traffic Accidents. Over the past decade automotive safety initiatives have grown in scope to not only include the vehicle occupants but also to pedestrians. Legislation relating to Pedestrian Protection currently exists in the European Union with further requirements and stricter targets planned for introduction in 2012 and beyond. These new requirements pose a quandary for Lotus due to the fact that aesthetic style is an important attribute of delivering Lotus core brand values and legislation requirements relating to pedestrian protection may drive a need to compromise and potentially degrade the impact of this key attribute. These compromises are driven by the potential physical geometric changes that maybe required to the front end surfaces to meet targets. A review of current literature was extensively performed to benchmarking of competitors, identifies industry trends and market landscape to determine what has been, is, and is going to be possibly done in the future to meet pedestrian protection requirements. A set of requirements and targets were defined to enable a more structured review of what technology automotive vehicle manufacturers and suppliers are offering and whether these technologies or strategies could meet the needs of the Lotus Elite to meet requirements. The current status of the Lotus Elite showcar relating to the achievement of pedestrian protection head impact requirements was derived. Identifying the head impact landscape of the vehicle geometry and highlighted areas of the vehicle that require further analysis and engineering focus to meet pedestrian protection targets. Both legislative and consumer test regime validity to ‘real’ world accident injury data are reviewed and discussed with a view that existing test criteria and methods do not address the primary causes of injury to pedestrians in the windscreen and ‘A’ pillar areas. Conclusions draws on research and CAE testing carried out by the Lotus Cars Engineering team to recommend that Elite must meet pedestrian protection requirements in order to support its growth strategy. The adoption of a passive pedestrian protection design strategy is also proposed by the Elite programme team, potentially allowing a lower technical risk and a faster time to market with reduced cost compared to active systems.