Helsinki University of Technology 08 February 2006

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Internal Combustion Engine Technology
Professor Martti Larmi

Post Graduate Programme for Internal Combustion Engine Technology

1. Objectives of the Post Graduate Education

The post graduate programme for internal combustion engine technology seeks to deepen the
capability of scientific thinking, enhance the ability to use criticism, and further the scientific
research in the area. In accordance with the examination code of Helsinki University of Technology
(HUT), the student should demonstrate deep and thorough knowledge of his or her field of research,
as well as the capability to think independently and create new knowledge.

The field of research in Internal Combustion Engine Technology in Helsinki University of

Technology has been defined to cover the following areas: Internal Combustion Engines, especially
diesel engines; theoretical and experimental methods, design and product development, and
combustion and emissions in engine technology.

Engine technology is quite an interdisciplinary field of science. In order to reach a sufficiently

profound level, the area of research has been focused. As a result, the focus of research and teaching
has been defined in the following way: essential physical phenomena of internal combustion
engines, especially in-cylinder phenomena. These phenomena and processes related to both the
existing and future fuels are
ƒ In-cylinder flows
ƒ Fuel injection
ƒ Combustion
ƒ Emission formation
In addition to the research around the combustion process, internal combustion engine technology
offers demanding challenges for engineering design, material science and strength of materials. In
these areas there are special topics like tribology, thermal load and the component design of the
combustion chamber. The combustion research will support these areas by giving boundary
conditions for these research topics.

2. Requirements for the Post Graduate Programme

The programme builds on the Master of Science university degree. Passing the advanced special
module in internal combustion engine technology (20 sp) with at least the grade good (3.0) is a
necessary prerequisite. Puutteellista perustutkintoa täydennetään tenttimällä kirja Heywood:
Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, mikäli kyseinen kirja ei ole sisältynyt perustutkintoon.
Myös kurssi Polttomoottorien simulointi (5 op) kuluu suorittaa esitietovaatimuksina, mikäli se ei
ole kuulunut perustutkintoon.

TEKNILLINEN KORKEAKOULU Polttomoottoritekniikka

TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN PL 4300, 02015 TKK
HELSINKI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Puumiehenkuja 5A, Espoo
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT HELSINKI puh (09) 451 3460, fax (09)
UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE D’HELSINKI 451 3454
http://www.hut.fi/
3. Structure and contents of the studies

The studies consist of modules.

1) Studies on preparing for scientific work, applying scientific knowledge and disseminating
scientific knowledge (10 cr)
2) Studies to obtain a more extensive and thorough understanding of a selected field of study,
compared with the basic degree (40 cr)
3) Studies in getting acquainted with at least one research area supporting the writing of the
thesis (20 cr)

Fig.1 The structure of a doctoral degree

Module Y (10 cr) Principles and practice of science in internal combustion engine technology
Post-graduate seminar in internal combustion engine technology 3 cr
Individual assignment on internal combustion engines 3 cr
Scientific writing in English 2 cr
Presentation of a scientific paper in an international conference 2 cr

Module T (40 cr) Field of research in internal combustion engine technology

Obligatory studies
Advanced Engine Modelling 10 cr
Flow and combustion measurements in engines 10 cr
Optional studies (the student chooses among these for the required amount of credits)
Literature exams at most 20 cr
Courses of the graduate school of Energy Technology at most 10 cr
Courses of the graduate school of Computational Fluid Mechanics at most 10 cr
Other graduate school courses at most 10 cr
Module T studies total 40 cr

Module S (20 cr) Supplementary field studies in internal combustion engine technology
(The student chooses among these for the required amount of credits)

Obligatory studies

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Advanced Engine Modelling 10 cr
or
Flow and combustion measurements in engines 10 cr
Optional studies (the student chooses among these for the required amount of credits)
Literature exams at most 10 cr
Courses of the graduate school of Energy Technology at most 10 cr
Courses of the graduate school of Computational Fluid Mechanics at most 10 cr
Other graduate school courses at most 10 cr
Module S studies total 20 cr

For the students in the post graduate programme for internal combustion engine technology, the
contents of Module S (20 cr) should be determined so that they support the thesis, once the
research topic has been agreed. The contents of the supporting module need to be agreed on with
the professor in charge.

Proper areas for module S combined with internal combustion engine technology:
• Mathematics
• Mechanics
• Fluid mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Chemistry
• Aerosol physics
• Computational science
• Energy technology and environmental protection
• Strength of materials
• Mechanical engineering, tribology
• Mechanical engineering, mechatronics
• Control technique and automation
• Measurement technology

4. Thesis and completed studies

The thesis can be either a licentiate’s degree or a doctoral dissertation. The licentiate’s degree must
demonstrate good and fluent use of scientific research methods on the part of the researcher, and the
dissertation needs to include new scientific knowledge. The thesis can be done either by conducting
a monograph, or by composing a summary of a collection of scientific publications or draft versions
accepted for publication.

Defining the exact focus and limits for the subject under study is critical for the thesis to be
successful. Getting to know the research problem thoroughly, and focusing the study precisely
should be done very carefully, and it is better to use too much time for this phase than too little. The
topic should be selected so that it is possible to widen it to a doctoral dissertation, although the
student would initially plan to do only a licentiate’s degree. Spinning out the research problem to
cover too wide a scope is a common problem, especially in the areas that touch closely on industrial
problems. This may result in insufficient scientific depth.

The primary form of the thesis consists of separate scientific articles. Typically, four articles, which
have gone through the scientific review process, form enough grounds for a doctoral dissertation. It
is recommended that the first article is either a literature study or a study involving a thorough
review of the literature surrounding the research topic. This will make sure that the student has
sufficient basic knowledge to proceed with the project.

Internal Combustion Engine Technology.doc 3 8.2.2

Suitable forums and journals for publication in internal combustion engine technology:
1. SAE Transactions, Journal of Engines
2. SAE Congresses
3. Journal of Engine Research
4. Atomization and Sprays
5. CIMAC
6. Other scientific journals in the field of energy
5. Graduate schools

The Internal Combustion Engine Technology is a member of the graduate schools of both the Fluid
Mechanics and the Energy Technology. The students participating in the postgraduate education in
Internal Combustion Engine Technology will be attached to a graduate school. It is possible for the
student to apply for a funded student-researcher position by the Ministry of Education in a graduate
school. This is highly recommended.

6. Post-graduate literature (The list is not exclusive)

Stiesch: Modeling Engine Spray and Combustion Processes. Springer Verlag, 2003
ISBN 3-540-00682-6. pp. 282. (together with the course, 10 cr)

Merker, Schwarz, Stiesch, Otto: Verbrennungsmotoren, Simulation der Verbrennung and

Schadstoffbildung, 2. Auflage. Teubner, 2004, ISBN 3-519-16382-9. pp. 410. ( 5 cr)

Zhao, Ladommatos: Engine Combustion Instrumentation and Diagnostics. SAE 2001, ISBN 0-
7680-0665-1. pp. 821. (together with the course, 10 cr)

Borman, Ragland: Combustion Engineering. McGraw-Hill, 1998. ISBN0-07-115978-9. pp. 613. (5

cr)

Chigier (ed.): Combustion Measurements, Hemisphere 1991. ISBN 1-56032-028-1. pp. 535. (5 cr)

Schindler: Kraftstoffe für morgen. Springer 1997. ISBN 3-540-62049-4. pp. 280. (3 cr)

Warnatz, Maas, Dibble: Combustion, 2nd edition, Springer 1999. ISBN 3-540-65228-0. pp. 299. (5
cr)

Sirignano: Fluid Dynamics and Transport of Droplets and Sprays. Cambridge 1999. ISBN 0-521-
63036-3. pp. 311. (5 cr)

Watson, Janota: Turbocharging the Internal Combustion Engine. MacMillan 1984. ISBN 0-333-
24290-4. pp. 608. (5 cr)

Lefebre: Atomization and Sprays. Hemisphere 1989. ISBN 0-89116-603-3. pp. 421. (5 cr)

Guibet: Fuels and Engines, Technology, Energy, Environment, Vol. 1. and Vol. 2. Technip 1999.
ISBN 2-7108-0753-X (Vol.1), ISBN 2-7108-0754-8 (Vol.2). pp. 786. (5 cr)

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