Air Flow Simulation Project

[Procision-Auto]

I am bored and I am looking to create a FLASH animation of how pressures
at the intake valve, exhaust port and cylinder effect engine power.

This simulation will account for piston position, valve events, RPM, port
lengths (at a minimum) and display values for the aforementioned items
and others during the simulation.


The trick will be showing pulse direction and pulse type. I'm thinking of
using colour coded chevrons to show pulse direction as well as sinusoidal
graphs at each key pressure location.

It is not a vector based simulation that will output VE%, TQ/HP, or anything
of that nature.

It is simply a display to show the effects of reversion, cam tuning, etc.

Aside from helping me learn more about the internals of a motor, this
sort of graphic animation could help you explain the benefits of
valve events, exhaust or head design to a potential customer.


My intention is to have an interactive GUI which will allow the user to
manipulate valve events, RPM, and possibly port lengths to show how the
air flow might react when conditions are ideal, and not well matched.

Those of you that help me with questions are welcome to a personalized
copy with your company name programmed into the project.

My goal is to have this complete within two months.

[larrycoyle]

So are you saying you are going to develop a CFD demonstration? Because that is exactly what it sounds like. This should be interesting and will you divulge your reference material? I am not sure I can offer anything of value but if I can answer any questions, I will.

Larry

[Procision-Auto]

So are you saying you are going to develop a CFD demonstration? Because that is exactly what it sounds like.

I wish I could do something that intense. Picture more of a "How Stuff Works"
animation with some values and graphs thrown in.

This should be interesting and will you divulge your reference material? Larry

Yes, any sources used will be noted.

[OldSStroker]

I am bored and I am looking to create a FLASH animation of how pressures
at the intake valve, exhaust port and cylinder effect engine power.

This simulation will account for piston position, valve events, RPM, port
lengths (at a minimum) and display values for the aforementioned items
and others during the simulation.


The trick will be showing pulse direction and pulse type. I'm thinking of
using colour coded chevrons to show pulse direction as well as sinusoidal
graphs at each key pressure location.

It is not a vector based simulation that will output VE%, TQ/HP, or anything
of that nature.

It is simply a display to show the effects of reversion, cam tuning, etc.

Aside from helping me learn more about the internals of a motor, this
sort of graphic animation could help you explain the benefits of
valve events, exhaust or head design to a potential customer.


My intention is to have an interactive GUI which will allow the user to
manipulate valve events, RPM, and possibly port lengths to show how the
air flow might react when conditions are ideal, and not well matched.

Those of you that help me with questions are welcome to a personalized
copy with your company name programmed into the project.

My goal is to have this complete within two months.

Unless I misread your post, it's already been done. Look at Engine Analyzer PRO. All of the graphics/visuals you describe are part of the output. There are little colored vectors showing direction and magnitude of flow in the head, as well as hp/torque, VE, BSFC, pressure graphs, PV diagrams, valvetrain dynamics and loads...and about 100 other things.

Unless your software accurately simulates what the engine design actually does, the graphics, etc. won't be too useful.

[Procision-Auto]

Thanks, I'll have a look at EA Pro.

I didn't intend to have a functional vector program. It was more a visual
for those wanting to understand what might happen behind closed doo...valves.

This will be a test of my FLASH programming and graphic abilites more than anything. Doing this project will also test my understanding of the
concepts.

[beth]

It sounds like a cool project to me. Any time spent learning something is time well spent IMO.



beth

[SWR]

From what I hear,a new-and-much-improved EA Pro is in the making and available in a couple weeks...

[Procision-Auto]

Hmmm...before I bust my chops on this project, please tell me EA Pro is
a multi-thousand dollar program and not in the reach of many enthusiasts
(like myself).

I get the feeling EA is used by high end professionals to calculate critical
engine parameters?

EDIT - Found this link:

http://www.auto-ware.com/software/eap/eap.htm

That's much more involved (mathematically) than I plan. The graphics
will be similar.

I'll post up some screen shots of the progress and we'll see what happens.

[OldSStroker]

Hmmm...before I bust my chops on this project, please tell me EA Pro is
a multi-thousand dollar program and not in the reach of many enthusiasts
(like myself).

I get the feeling EA is used by high end professionals to calculate critical
engine parameters?

EDIT - Found this link:

http://www.auto-ware.com/software/eap/eap.htm

That's much more involved (mathematically) than I plan. The graphics
will be similar.

I'll post up some screen shots of the progress and we'll see what happens.

EA Pro about $500. It's used by many folks from "low-end" to "high-end pros". You can learn much from it if you take lots of time with it.

http://www.performancetrends.com/Engine ... o_v3.3.htm

Run the demo at the bottom of the page.

It's always fun reinventing the wheel.

[Procision-Auto]

OldSS,

That's just a touch more involved than I could ever program at the moment.

You might find my animation on "How Stuff Works" one day...cough...
but it could never be used for engine tuning purposes.

I will however play with EA Demo. Thanks for linking me.

[Procision-Auto]

Here's a sneak peek of where I'm heading with this.

You might need FLASH installed on your computer to view this. It's just
the piston motion at the moment (and a rough motion at that).

http://gmthunder.com/tech/engine.swf

As you'll notice, there's no comparison to EA Pro...mine is MUCH prettier.

[larrycavan]

FWIW... Beth is right on the money! There's ALWAYS value in learning something new. So what if it's not something GM, Ford, et al will marvel at. There's value to you in the exercise....who knows what it might lead to down the road...GO FOR IT!

JMO

Larry C

[SWR]

As you'll notice, there's no comparison to EA Pro...mine is MUCH prettier.

You've over-rev'ed it...you have awfully bent valves compared to Kevin of PT's version...

[Procision-Auto]

Once I figure out how to show the air flow and pulse tuning, I'll redraw the
valves.

I don't like how the valves are sliding open horizontally...those poor valve guides!