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Nissan Micra Specification Investigation

Aim:
To evaluate the manufacturers claims against theoretical predictions.
Criteria for top speed normally it will be at maximum power.
Criteria for first gear start on 1 in 3 gradient with minimum clutch slip, torque at
engine tickover.
Specification detail
Top speed

171 kph (107 mph)

Engine speed at maximum power

5200 rpm

Engine Speed at maximum torque

3600 rpm

0-62 mph (99.2 kph)


Gross weight (kg):
Kerb weight (kg):

11.4s
1475
990

Gear ratios:
1st:
2nd:
3rd:
4th:
5th:
Reverse:
Final drive:

3.727:1
2.048:1
1.393:1
1.029:1
0.821:1
3.546:1
4.214:1

Tyres:

175/60 R15

Assume:
Transmission Efficiency
Mass Equivalent (m eq )

95%
0.15mass = 0.15 x 990 = 148.5 kg

Starting resistance

( RCS )

0.025

Rolling resistance

R
( C)

0.012

Mass of driver (kg)

80

140.00

Torque (Nm) Power

120.00

Torque
100.00

80.00

60.00

40.00

sfc
20.00
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Engine Speed
(rev/min)

Engine Characteristics

Check top speed:


This will occur at maximum power engine speed 5200 rev/min
Vehicle speed =wheel revs x tyre circumference

Tyre diameter= (175 0.6 ) 2+ ( 25.4 15 ) =591mm


givingCircumference = 0.591=1.857 m

Wheel speed =

Ne
5200
=
=1503 rev /min
ng nd 0.821 4.214

Vehicle speed =

1503 60 1.857
=167.5 kph
1000

Vehicle specification is faster comment?


Revised tyre circumference=1.857

171
=1.896 m
167.5

Speed in first gear:


Speed 1=

5200 60 1.896
=37.67 kph say 38 kph
3.727 4.214 1000

To calculate theoretical gear ratios based on progressive format:


Consider progressive gear change speed step between each gear shift is same.
Speed range first to top = 5th 1st = 171 38 = 133 kph over 4 stages = 33.25 kph
per stage.
This gives
1st
38 kph

2nd
71.25 kph

Speed i =v i=

3rd
104.5 kph

4th
137.75 kph

5th
171 kph

5200 60 1.896 140.38


=
kph
ni 4.214 1000
ni

Giving
ni=

140.38
vi

So for each gear ratio is


1 st=

140.38
=3.727
37.67

2 nd=

140.38
=1.97
71.25

3 rd=

140.38
=1.343
104.5

4 th=

140.38
=1.019
137.75

5 th=

140.38
=0.821
171

Gear Ratio
Actual
Calculated

1st
3.727
3.727

2nd
2.048
1.97

3rd
1.393
1.343

4th
1.029
1.019

5th
0.821
0.821

To calculate engine speed change during gear shift where gear is


shifted up.
Let NU be upper engine speed (5200 rpm) and N L be lower engine speed after each
gear change.
Lower engine speed=N L(i +1)=5200

ni +1
ni

Lower engine speed=2 nd=5200

2.048
=2857 rpm
3.727

Lower engine speed=3 rd=5200

1.393
=3537 rpm
2.048

Lower engine speed=4 th=5200

1.029
=3841rpm
1.393

Lower engine speed=5 th=5200

0.821
=4149 rpm
1.029

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Gear Ratio
3.727
2.048
1.393
1.029
0.821
Road speed (kph)
37.67
71.25
104.5
137.75 171
NU (rpm)
5200
5200
5200
5200
5200
NL (rpm)
1000
2857
3537
3841
4149
Middle engine speed (rpm)
3100
4029
4369
4520
4675
Torque (Nm)
129.6
124.4
123.1
125.2
122.5
Note: Torque figures extrapolated from torque figures in table rather than graph.
Plot these graphically as shown in Figure 1.

Engine Speed (rpm)


5500
5000
4500
4000
3500

NL

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Vehicle Road Speed (kph)

Figure 1 Graph showing engine speeds against road speed


in each gear for aggressive driving

Torque (Nm) Power

140.00

NU
120.00

5t
4th

100.00

Torque

h
3r
2n

80.00

1s
t

60.00

40.00

Sfc/10

20.00
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Engine Speed
(rev/min)

Figure 2 - Graph showing torque, power and 0.1sfc against engine speed
Note engine speed range in each gear aggressive driving.
5

For Tractive Effort in each gear use middle speed torque assume efficiency 95%
Gear Ratio
Road speed (kph)
Road speed (m/s)
Middle engine speed (rpm)
Mean Torque (Nm)
Tractive Effort i =

1 st gear TE1=

1st
3.727
37.67
10.46
3100
129.6

2nd
2.048
71.25
19.79
4029
124.4

3rd
1.393
104.5
29.03
4369
123.1

4th
1.029
137.75
38.36
4520
125.2

5th
0.821
171
47.50
4675
122.5

3rd
1.393
104.5
29.03
4369
123.1
2323

4th
1.029
137.75
38.36
4520
125.2
1745

5th
0.821
171
47.50
4675
122.5
1363

3rd
1.393
104.5
29.03
87.88

4th
1.029
137.75
38.36
121.13

5th
0.821
171
47.50
153.38

T e ni nd

129.6 3.727 4.214


0.95=6544 N
0.2955

2 nd gear TE2=

124.4 2.048 4.214


0.95=3452 N
0.2955

3 rd gear TE3 =

123.1 1.393 4.214


0.95=2323 N
0.2955

4 thgear TE 4=

125.2 1.029 4.214


0.95=1745 N
0.2955

5 th gear TE 5=

122.5 0.821 4.214


0.95=1363 N
0.2955

Gear Ratio
Road speed (kph)
Road speed (m/s)
Middle engine speed (rpm)
Mean Torque (Nm)
Mean Tractive Effort (N)

1st
3.727
37.67
10.46
3100
129.6
6544

2nd
2.048
71.25
19.79
4029
124.4
3452

To determine Drag (D) in each gear:


Gear Ratio
Road speed (kph)
Road speed (m/s)
Average speed (kph)

1st
3.727
37.67
10.46
18.9

2nd
2.048
71.25
19.79
54.46

Average speed (m/s)

5.25

15.13

24.41

33.65

42.61

3rd
1.393
104.5
29.03
87.88
24.41
218.1

4th
1.029
137.75
38.36
121.13
33.65
414.4

5th
0.821
171
47.50
153.38
42.61
664.5

1
Drag D= C D A v 2
2
1
1 st gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 5.252 =10.1 N
2
1
2 nd gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 15.132=83.8 N
2
1
3 rd gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 24.412=218.1 N
2
1
4 thgear D= 1.22 0.3 2 33.652=414.4 N
2
1
2
5 th gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 42.61 =664.5 N
2
1st
3.727
37.67
10.46
18.9
5.25
10.1

Gear Ratio
Road speed (kph)
Road speed (m/s)
Average speed (kph)
Average speed (m/s)
Drag (N)

2nd
2.048
71.25
19.79
54.46
15.13
83.8

Starting Resistance=mg R c =( 990+80 ) 9.81 0.025=262.4 N

To Calculate First Gear


Starting Tractive Effort =Resistances=Starting+Gradient
Gradient 1 in 3 = 18.43 degrees giving sin18.43 = 0.316
Gradient Resistance=mg sin =( 1475 ) 9.81 0.316=4572 N
Torque at tickover (1000 rpm) = 94.67 Nm
Starting Tractive Effort =

T e n1 nd
94.67 n1 4.214
=
0.95=1282.55 n1
r
0.2955

1282.55 n1=4572+262 . 4

Givingn 1=3.77
This is close to actual ratio of 3.727 therefore the designer uses the gross
mass for calculating first gear note this procedure for future reference.

To calculate acceleration in each gear

( m+meq ) x =TEDragR R
x =

TEDragR r
(m+ m eq)

RR =mg Rc =( 990+ 80 ) 9.81 0.02=210 N

1 st x =

654410.1210
=5.277 m/ s2
(1050+148.5)

2 nd x =

345283.8210
=2.635 m/s 2
(1050+148.5)

3 rd x =

2323218.1210
=1.581m/ s2
(1050+ 148.5)

4 th x =

1745414.4210
2
=0.935 m/ s
(1050+148.5)

5 th x =

1363664.5210
=0.408 m/s 2
(1050+148.5)

Average acceleration 0 to 99.2 kph (27.56 m/s) in 11.4s = 2.417 m/s2

To calculate distance travelled in each gear, time and thus average


acceleration:

v max =umax +2 as
giving
v 2max u2max
s=
2a

First gear s1=

10.4620 2
=10.37 m
2 5.277
2

Second gear s 2=

19.79 10.46
=53.56 m
2 2.635
2

Third gear s 3=

29.03 19.79
=142.66 m
2 1.581
2

Fourth gear s 4=

Fifth gear s5=

38.36 29.03
=336.23 m
2 0.935
2

47.5 38.36
=961.72 m
2 0.408

Maximum speed in 3rd is 104.5 kph but acceleration is measured up to 99.2 kph
(27.56 m/s)
This gives actual distance travelled in 3rd before speed is reached to be:
Third gear s 3=

27.56219.792
=116.35 m
2 1.581

To calculate time in each gear


v =u+at

t=

vu vu
=
a
x

t1 =

10.460
=1.982 s
5.277

t2 =

19.7910.46
=3.54 s
2.635

t3 =

29.0319.79
=5.84 s
1.581

t 4=

38.3629.03
=9.98 s
0.935

t5 =

47.5038.36
=22.40 s
0.408

Time in 3rd gear to reach 99.2 kph


t3 =

27.5619.79
=4.915 s
1.581

x av =

x i ti = ( 5.277 1.982 ) +( 2.635 3.54 ) +(1.581 4.915) =2.64 m/s 2


t total

(1.982+3.54+ 4.915)

2.417 m/s2

Specification calculates to be

Comment Theory does not account for gear shift time. Theoretical time is
10.437s, specification says 11.4 s.
Correcting for gear shift time
Revised acceleration=2.64

10.437
=2.417 m/s 2
11.4

Overall average acceleration


x av =

x i ti = ( 5.277 1.982 ) +( 2.635 3.54 ) +( 1.581 5.84 )+ ( 0.935 9.98 ) +( 0.408 22.4) =1.086 m/s 2
t total

(1.982+3.54 +5.84+9.98+ 22.4)

10

Consider Eco-Driving
For Eco Driving change gear close to minimum SFC say 4200 rpm so
acceleration is mainly at bottom of sfc curve see Figure 3.

140.00

120.00

100.00

4t
3rht

80.00

2nd
d

1s
t

60.00

5t
h

40.00

20.00
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Figure 3 - Graph showing torque, power and 0.1sfc against engine speed
Note engine speed range in each gear Eco-driving.
As before
Lower engine speed=2 nd=4200

2.048
=2308 rpm
3.727

Lower engine speed=3 rd=4200

1.393
=2857 rpm
2.048

Lower engine speed=4 th=4200

1.029
=3103 rpm
1.393

Lower engine speed=5 th=4200

0.821
=3351 rpm
1.029

Road speed
Speed i =v i=

4200 60 1.896 113.38


=
kph
ni 4.214 1000
ni

11

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Gear Ratio
3.727
2.048
1.393
1.029
0.821
Road speed (kph)
30.42
55.36
81.39
110.18
171
NU (rpm)
4200
4200
4200
4200
5200
NL (rpm)
1000
2308
2857
3103
3351
Middle engine speed (rpm)
2600
3254
3529
3652
4276
Torque (Nm)
124.4
130.0
128.0
127.1
124.3
Note: Torque figures extrapolated from torque figures in table rather than graph.
See appendix 1
5500

5200
rpm

5000
4500

NU 4200
rpm

4000
3500
3000

NL

2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Figure 4 Graph showing engine speeds against road speed


in each gear for eco-driving 4200rpm maximum at gear change.
As before
Tractive Effort i =
1 st gear TE1=

T e ni nd

124.4 3.727 4.214


0.95=6281 N
0.2955

2 nd gear TE2=

130.0 2.048 4.214


0.95=3607 N
0.2955
12

3 rd gear TE3 =

128.0 1.393 4.214


0.95=2415 N
0.2955

4 thgear TE 4=

127.1 1.029 4.214


0.95=1771 N
0.2955

5 th gear TE 5=

124.3 0.821 4.214


0.95=1383 N
0.2955

Gear Ratio
Road speed (kph)
Road speed (m/s)
Average speed (m/s)

1st
3.727
30.42
8.45
4.23

2nd
2.048
55.36
15.38
11.92

3rd
1.393
81.39
22.61
19.00

4th
1.029
110.18
30.60
26.61

5th
0.821
171
47.50
39.05

3rd
1.393
19.00
132.13
2415

4th
1.029
26.61
259.2
1771

5th
0.821
39.05
558.1
1383

1
2
Drag D= C D A v
2
1
1 st gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 4.232=6.55 N
2
1
2 nd gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 11.922=52.00 N
2
1
2
3 rd gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 19.00 =132.13 N
2
1
2
4 thgear D= 1.22 0.3 2 26.61 =259.2 N
2
1
5 th gear D= 1.22 0.3 2 39.052=558.1 N
2

Gear Ratio
Average speed (m/s)
Drag (N)
Tractive Effort (N)

1st
3.727
4.23
6.55
6281

2nd
2.048
11.92
52.00
3607

To calculate acceleration in each gear

( m+meq ) x =TEDragR R

13

x =

TEDragR r
(m+ m eq)

RR =mg Rc =( 990+ 80 ) 9.81 0.02=210 N

1 st x =

62816.55210
2
=5.06 m/ s
(1050+148.5)

2 nd x =

360752.0210
2
=2.79 m/ s
(1050+148.5)

3 rd x =

2415132.13210
=1.73 m/s2
(1050+ 148.5)

4 th x =

1771259.2210
=1.09 m/ s 2
(1050+148.5)

5 th x =

1383558.1210
=0.513 m/s2
(1050+ 148.5)

To calculate distance travelled in each gear, time and thus average


acceleration:
1st
3.727
8.45
6281
5.06

Gear Ratio
Road speed (m/s)
Tractive Effort (N)
Acceleration (m/s2)

2nd
2.048
15.38
3607
2.79

3rd
1.393
22.61
2415
1.73

4th
1.029
30.60
1771
1.09

5th
0.821
47.50
1383
0.513

v 2max =u2max +2 as
giving
v 2 u2
s= max max
2a
2

First gear s1=

8.45 0
=7.055m
2 5.06

14

Second gear s 2=

Third gear s 3=

22.61 15.38
=79.38 m
2 1.73

Fourth gear s 4=

Fifth gear s5=

15.38 8.45
=29.60 m
2 2.79

30.6 22.61
=195.02 m
2 1.09

47.5 230.62
=1286.44 m
2 0.513

To calculate time in each gear


v =u+at

t=

vu vu
=
a
x

t1 =

8.450
=1.670 s
5.06

t2 =

15.388.45
=2.284 s
2.79

t3 =

22.6115.38
=4.18 s
1.73

t 4=

30.6022.61
=7.33 s
1.09

t5 =

47.5030.60
=31.94 s
0.513

x av =

x i ti = ( 5.06 1.67 ) +( 2.79 2.284 )+ ( 1.73 4.18 ) +( 1.09 7.33 ) +(0.513 31.9) =0.98 m/s 2
t total

(1.67+ 2.284+ 4.18+7.33+31.9)

Compare to aggressive driving where average acceleration was 1.086 m/s 2.

To determine average acceleration to 99.2 kph.


15

1st
3.727
30.42
8.45

Gear Ratio
Road speed (kph)
Road speed (m/s)

2nd
2.048
55.36
15.38

3rd
1.393
81.39
22.61

4th
1.029
110.18
30.60

5th
0.821
171
47.50

In this case it is necessary to change into 4th gear. Time in 4th gear to get to
speed is given as:
t 4=

27.5622.61
=4.54 s
1.09

x av =

x i ti = ( 5.06 1.67 ) +( 2.79 2.284 )+ ( 1.73 4.18 ) +( 1.09 4.54 ) =2.13 m/s 2
t total

(1.67+2.284+ 4.18+ 4.54)

Compare to acceleration due to aggressive driving 2.64 m/s 2 over 12.67s.


If this were corrected as before to account for gear shift times fundamentally
add 1 second onto overall time.
Acceleration 99.2 kph=2.13

12.67
=1.97 m/ s2
13.67

16

Appendix 1
Engine Characteristic Values
Avg
Speed

Avg Dyno
Torque

Avg
UnCorr.
Power

Cor
Power

Cor
Torque

Cor
Factor

Cor
Power

Cor
Torque

Measured
SFC

rev/min

Nm

kW

kW

Nm

PS

kgm

g/kWh

1000

96.50

10.10

9.91

94.67

0.981

13.47

9.65

311.71

1202

109.14

13.73

13.46

106.99

0.980

18.30

10.91

308.93

1600

113.14

18.95

18.57

110.87

0.980

25.25

11.31

299.09

2000

117.05

24.51

24.02

114.68

0.980

32.65

11.69

290.17

2400

124.08

31.18

30.55

121.56

0.980

41.54

12.40

270.88

2800

129.87

38.08

37.30

127.23

0.980

50.72

12.97

272.01

3200

133.08

44.59

43.70

130.40

0.980

59.41

13.30

266.20

3600

130.10

49.05

48.08

127.51

0.980

65.36

13.00

283.91

4000

127.00

53.19

52.14

124.48

0.980

70.89

12.69

301.46

4400

126.65

58.35

57.20

124.16

0.980

77.78

12.66

319.39

4800

122.96

61.80

60.60

120.57

0.981

82.40

12.30

342.84

5200

120.08

65.39

64.14

117.78

0.981

87.20

12.01

337.30

5600

110.74

64.94

63.73

108.68

0.981

86.65

11.08

365.54

6000

93.44

58.71

57.63

91.73

0.982

78.36

9.35

410.78

6400

81.97

54.94

53.97

80.52

0.982

73.37

8.21

465.74

17

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