PERFORMANCE SIMULATION OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION DRIVE CVTS

A computer model for the performance simulation of vehicles equipped with traction drive continuously variable transmission (CVT) is presented. The model integrates the traction drive CVT subsystem into an existing overall vehicle system. The characteristics of engine output torque are formulated using neural networks, and torque converter is modeled using lookup tables. Component inputs and outputs are coupled in the dynamic equations and interfaces in the powertrain system. The model simulation can provide evaluation of vehicle performance in drivability, fuel economy and emission levels for various drive ranges prior to the prototyping of the vehicle. As a design tool, the model assists engineers in understanding the effect of powertrain components on vehicle performance and making decisions in the selection of key design parameters. The model is implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The performance simulation of a test vehicle is included as a numerical example to illustrate the effectiveness of the model.