Abstract: There is provided a self-muffling acoustic duct assembly for noise attenuation in a vehicle. The self-muffling acoustic duct assembly includes a duct with two or more reinforced thermoplastic composite laminate layers forming a duct structure and having a plurality of openings for noise to travel through. The duct includes a thermoplastic film sealing layer embedded between the reinforced thermoplastic composite laminate layers. The thermoplastic film sealing layer forms a barrier to prevent leakage of air from the duct and is transparent to the noise traveling through the duct. The self-muffling acoustic duct assembly further includes an insulation and noise attenuating layer coupled to, and covering, the duct structure, and a thermoplastic film outer layer coupled to the insulation and noise attenuating layer. The duct allows transmission of noise through the duct and into the insulation and noise attenuating layer, while avoiding use of separate zone mufflers.

Abstract: An apparatus and system and method for mixing airflow and draining condensate in a duct exposed to sub-freezing air are disclosed. An example mixing duct apparatus includes a recirculation duct and a pack duct having a first end and a second end. The first end of the pack duct is coupled to a side of the recirculation duct. The pack duct has a lip that extends into an airflow passage defined by the recirculation duct. This lip defines a flow channel for condensate in the recirculation duct to flow beneath sub-freezing air entering the recirculation duct from the pack duct to decrease ice build-up in the pack duct.

Abstract: An apparatus and system and method for mixing airflow and draining condensate in a duct exposed to sub-freezing air are disclosed. An example mixing duct apparatus includes a recirculation duct and a pack duct having a first end and a second end. The first end of the pack duct is coupled to a side of the recirculation duct. The pack duct has a lip that extends into an airflow passage defined by the recirculation duct. This lip defines a flow channel for condensate in the recirculation duct to flow beneath sub-freezing air entering the recirculation duct from the pack duct to decrease ice build-up in the pack duct.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for generating engine attachment control boundary conditions and corresponding control signals for an exhaust system laboratory test fixture which accurately reproduce both the dynamic behavior of a vehicle powertrain during operation, and the dynamic behavior of the vehicle frame during operation in the area where the exhaust system is attached to the vehicle frame. Road load data is collected in vertical, lateral, and longitudinal directions on the vehicle frame during vehicle operation at each of the locations where the exhaust system attaches. In addition, temperature and thermal cycling data are also collected during operation of the vehicle. The road load data is used to determine a best fit rigid body model. Accelerometer locations and directions are determined from statistical analysis and ranking to find the measures best fitting the determined rigid body.