PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess a phenomenological zero‐dimensional model (0‐D model) in order to evaluate both the in‐cylinder tumble motion and turbulence in high‐performance engine, focusing on the capability and sensitivity of the model.Design/methodology/approachThe study was performed using a four‐valve pentroof engine, testing two different intake ports. The first one was a conventional port and the second one was design in such a way to promote tumble. CFD simulations for admission and compression strokes under different engine conditions were carried out. Then, the in‐cylinder entrance mass and mean velocities from CFD were imposed as boundary conditions in the 0‐D model.FindingsMarked discrepancies between 0‐D model and CFD results were found. As expected, for the original port, CFD results displayed a poor tumble generation during the admission period. It was followed by a fast degradation of the tumble momentum along the compression stroke due to it was not dominant over the other two momentum components. 0‐D model overestimated the entrance‐tumble but underestimated the vortex degradation along the compression stroke, resulting in higher tumble predictions, thereby it is not recommended for low‐tumble engines. As for the modified port, 0‐D model assumptions were closer to the in‐cylinder flow field from CFD, but results underestimated the entrance‐tumble during the intake stroke and predicted excessive tumble at the end of the compression stroke. Summarizing, 0‐D model neither showed sensitivity to changes in the intake port because of the scarce information about the entrance‐flow field nor it was not suitable to evaluate the tumble degradation.Originality/valueThe limitations of the current model were highlighted, given possible guidelines in order to improve it.

The influence of BaTiO 3 content on the composite dielectric properties was investigated by finite element method (FEM). This method is attractive because of its technological applications such as those in electromagnetic shields, since it allows to determine the dielectric constant of heterogeneous mediums and show or display the electric field into the material in order to understand the interfacial behaviours. The dielectric response of an anisotropic and periodic heterostructure, was evaluated and quantified by means of a quasistatic approximation using Laplace's equation which was solved by 3D FEM.The numerical calculations were confronted with experimental data. Measurements of the effective permittivity were carried out in samples prepared by dipping technique.

A numerical approach using a finite element method (FEM) was performed in order to determine the dielectric constant (ε') of BaTiO 3—epoxy composites. In order to diminish computational resources and analyse simple models, composite topology was represented by periodic structures based on FCC configurations, but introducing novel packaging protocols, defining the way composites are filled as particle concentration is increased. The dielectric response of these anisotropic and periodic structures was mathematically represented through a quasi-static approximation using the Laplace equation. The amount of inclusions was varied in order to represent diluted and concentrated systems and structures were assessed for the whole feasible range of volume fractions. The numerical results were compared with experimental data concluding that only packaging protocols that consider higher particle—particle interaction are suitable to represent the dielectric behavior of concentrated-composite materials.

Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations and experimental steady flow tests (flow discharge, swirl, and tumble) were carried out to study the in-cylinder flow in a commercial four-valve spark ignition engine. The present investigation was aimed at analysing and controlling the generation of macro-vortex structures (swirl and tumble) during the inlet process. A comparative study of the most commonly employed tumble benches along with in-house design was performed, the last showing some advantages with respect to the others. The outcomes from the simulations were in agreement with experimental results. Mainly, the tumble generation rate was in general proportional to the valve lift. However, tumble was reduced drastically at medium valve lift due to a change in the vortex pattern. A stagnation zone was observed between inlet valves. CFD calculations successfully captured this tumble-fall effect, which was related to characteristic changes in the vortex pattern downstream of the inlet valves at medium valve lift. This affects tumble production without affecting the mass flowrate efficiency. Finally, at high valve lifts the tumble production and the vortex pattern were recovered. The capability of the cylinder head to induce swirl, tumble, or combined swirl-tumble by modifying the valve timing or by introducing adjustable flow deflectors was evaluated using CFD. Several valve timing strategies were analysed: some of them produced significant swirl, but introduced high mass flowrate losses. On the other hand, adjustable flow deflectors were shown to be an interesting alternative to induce swirltumble at low load and to improve tumble at high load.

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Numerical and experimental techniques were applied in order to study the in-cylinder flow field in a commercial four-valve per cylinder spark ignition engine. Investigation was aimed at analyzing the generation and evolution of tumble-vortex structures during the intake and compression strokes, and the capacity of this engine to promote turbulence enhancement during tumble degradation at the end of the compression stroke. For these purposes, three different approaches were analyzed. First, steady flow rig tests were experimentally carried out, and then reproduced by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Once CFD was assessed, cold dynamic simulations of the full engine cycle were performed for several engine speeds (1500 rpm, 3000 rpm, and 4500 rpm). Steady and cold dynamic results were compared in order to assess the feasibility of the former to quantify the in-cylinder flow. After that, combustion was incorporated by means of a homogeneous heat source, and dynamic boundary conditions were introduced in order to approach real engine conditions. The combustion model estimates the burning rate as a function of some averaged in-cylinder flow variables (temperature, pressure, turbulent intensity, and piston position). Results were employed to characterize the in-cylinder flow field of the engine and to establish similarities and differences between the three performed tests that are currently used to estimate the engine mean flow characteristics (steady flow rig, and cold and real dynamic simulations).