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• This is an article from the journal, Proceedings of the IMechE, DOI: 10.1243/09544054JEM473SCAbstract: To cope with the environmental effects of 9 million tonnes of vehicles that reach the end of their useful lives each year in Europe, the EC have created the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) Directive. Two of the most radical measures included in the Directive are to provide free takeback to last owners and to achieve targeted levels for the recycling and recovery of material by set dates. This paper aims to provide a basis for future research by evaluating the potential direction of the recovery industry. This is achieved firstly by assessing the origins of the directive and previous research surrounding the subject. The paper then describes the current recovery infrastructure and practices in the UK, highlighting all the stakeholders involved in the recovery industry. This paper also highlights the issues related to the provision of takeback and the attainment of targets through two stages, namely the implementation and management of takeback, and the use of new technology to achieve the recovery targets. The paper concludes by identifying key aims for future research to support the objectives of the implemented legislation and the financial stability of all stakeholders.

This paper proposes a systems engineering framework for integrated automotive development --the total view approach. It is a modelling framework that integrates the product, its life cycle processes and their associated organisations throughout the requirements, functional and physical analysis processes, at all levels of the product breakdown structure, deriving attributes as emergent properties of a whole integrated system. The paper justifies the framework through a review of traditional and current automotive development and two case studies.

A computer aided design facility for the analysis and simulation of hydraulic servo-systems is being developed, and this work has highlighted the lack of a suitable component oriented model for the asymmetric cylinder drive. Current literature characterizes the linking between the valve and the as m'c cylinder by the service line pressures and flows which together represent up to four variables. This paper outlines a simpEapproach by defining and utilizing generalized definitions of load ow and load pressure so that adequate linking is made possible by the two simple product variables of power. This enables a model to I? e produced in a way that is directly analogous to that of a symmetric cylinder drive. Particular disculties associated with spool Operation in the underlap region and with lanu'nar leakage modelling are addressed. The model thus provides an intuitive insight into the particular control problems associated with asymmetric cylinder drives when controlled by a symmetric four-way valve, a combination found in many applications. Computer generated results are compared with observed resultsfiom a test rig. A steady state model solution is shown to emulate the steady state characteristics of the drive. A dynamic model solution, via simulation, is shown to correspond well with observed response. Both open-and closed-loop responses are tested. The characteristic of an asymmetric cylindm to demonstrate a higher gain and lower damping when extending (compared to retracting) is clearly evident in the results. The generalized definitions demonstrate potential for application in a wide range of analysis techniques.

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