Vehicular Thermal Analysis Imaging and Simulation

Principal Investigators
Mohammad Omar, (International Center for Automotive Research CU-ICAR, Clemson U.)
Georges Fadel (Clemson U.)

Industry
Tomokazu Okuno, Richard Alloo (Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.)

Government
Mark Brudnak (TARDEC)

Our objectives are to develop a full 3D thermal-simulation tool (module) for vehicular components’ thermal design and analysis; through:

• Correlating the vehicles’ deformable components, thermal signature with mean time between failures, using thermo-elasticity correlations.
• Analyze vehicles’ components, thermal emissions and dissipation routes for optimized thermal-packaging and utilization strategies.

This research provides a simulation design tool that will provide information and possibilities in the design/package of deformable components (tires, hoses) and locate/orient heat generating sources (power-train, exhaust pipe routes) in vehicles, to increase Mean Time between Failures (MTF), as well as possibly enable on-site proactive maintenance routines.