Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

A course on Vehicle Dynamics

By
Prof. Sarvesh Mahajan BITS, PILANI

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

What is this course all about ?

Hand-out-Vehicle
-Dynamics

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Introduction to Automotive Vehicles

Automobile is a self-propelled passenger / commercial vehicle that
usually has two , three, four or more wheels and an internalcombustion engine, used for land transport.
An automobile (or automotive) is a vehicle that is capable of
propelling itself.
Since seventeenth century, several attempts have been made to
design and construct a practically operative automobile.
Today, automobiles play an unimaginable role in the social, economic
and industrial growth of any country.
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Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on purpose:
1. Passenger vehicles These automobiles carry passengers e.g.:
Buses, Passenger trains, cars
2. Goods vehicles These vehicles are used for transportation of
goods from one place to another. e.g.: Goods lorry, goods carrier

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Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on capacity:
1. Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) Large and bulky motor vehicles
e.g.: Large trucks, buses
2. Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) Small motor vehicles e.g.: Cars,
Jeeps
3.Medium Vehicle Relatively medium sized vehicles e.g.: Small
trucks, mini buses

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Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on fuel source:
1. Petrol engine vehicles Automobiles powered by petrol engine
e.g.: scooters, cars, mopeds, motorcycles
2. Diesel engine vehicles Automotives powered by diesel engine
e.g.: Trucks, Buses
3. Gas vehicles Vehicles that use gas turbine as power source e.g.:
Turbine powered cars
4. Solar vehicles Vehicles significantly powered by solar power
e.g.: Solar powered cars
5. Hydrogen vehicles Vehicles that have hydrogen as a power
source e.g.: Honda FCX Clarity

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on fuel source:
6. Electric vehicles Automobiles that use electricity as a power
source e.g.: Electric car, electric buses
7. Steam Engine Vehicles Automotives powered by steam engine
e.g.: Steamboat, steam locomotive, steam wagon
8. Hybrid Vehicles Vehicles that use two or more distinct power
sources e.g.: Hybrid buses, hybrid cars like Toyota Prius, Honda
Insight
9. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Automobile that uses both Internal
Combustion Engine and Electric Power Source to propel itself e.g.:
Jaguar C-X75

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on type of transmission:
1. Automatic transmission vehicles Automobiles that are capable
of changing gear ratios automatically as they move e.g.: Automatic
Transmission Cars
2. Conventional transmission vehicles Automotives whose gear
ratios have to be changed manually with clutch pedal.
3. Semi-automatic transmission vehicles Vehicles that facilitate
manual gear changing without clutch pedal.

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

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Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on number of wheels:
1. Two wheeler Automobiles having two wheels e.g.: Scooters,
motorcycles
2. Three wheeler Automotive having three wheels e.g.: Tricycles,
Auto rickshaws, Tempos
3. Four wheeler Vehicle having four wheels e.g.: Car, Jeep
4. Six wheeler with Multi-Axles Automobile having six wheels used
for heavy transportation e.g.: Large trucks, large buses

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Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on the side of drive:
1. Left hand drive automobile Vehicle in which steering wheel is
fitted on the left hand side e.g.: Automobiles found in USA, Russia
2. Right hand drive automobile - Vehicle in which steering wheel is
fitted on the right hand side e.g.: Automobiles found in India,
Australia, UK, South africa (mostly all countries ruled by british
people)

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on wheel drive:
1. Front Wheel Drive Vehicle in which Power is supplied to the
Front Wheels e.g. most of the passenger cars where the FAW is
always higher
2. Rear Wheel Drive - Vehicle in which Power is supplied to the Rear
Wheels e.g. most of the commercial vehicles where the RAW is
mostly higher
3. Four Wheel Drive - Vehicle in which Power can be supplied either
to the Front wheels or Rear Wheels or all 4 wheels e.g. most of the
SUVs
4. All Wheel Drive - Vehicle in which Power is supplied to all 4 wheels
always e.g. most of the SUVs run in desert areas.
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Classification of Automotive Vehicles

Based on Body Constructions:
1. Monocoque Vehicle in which Chassis Frame is an integral part of
the Body and all axles and suspensions are mounted to it e.g. most of
the passenger cars.
2. Ladder Frame (Body over Chassis construction) - Vehicle in which
Chassis Frame is a separate part from the Body and all axles and
suspensions are mounted to it and Body is also mounted on it e.g.
most of the passenger commercial Vehicles.

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Automotive Vehicle construction

It consist of following Major Systems
1.) Body
2.) Chassis Frame (if vehicle is ladder frame based)
3.) Suspensions
4.) Steering
5.) Axles, Wheels and Tyres and Brakes
6.) Engine and Power House
7.) Drive Line (consist of Gear Box, Prop shaft, Differential, Clutch etc.)
8.) Cooling and Exhaust System

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Automotive Chssis construction

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Automotive Body construction

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Importance of Vehicle Dynamics

Vehicle dynamics is a part of engineering primarily based on classical
mechanics. The role of Vehicle Dynamics is very crucial in
understanding the overall running behaviour of the vehicles on raod.
Its major components are
Automobile layout
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Steering
Suspension
Traction control system (TCS)
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Some attributes of vehicle dynamics are purely aerodynamic. These

include:
Automobile drag coefficient
Automotive aerodynamics
Center of pressure
Downforce
Ground effect in cars

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Some attributes or aspects of vehicle dynamics are purely geometric.

These include:
Ackermann steering geometry
Axle track
Camber angle
Caster angle
Ride height
Roll center
Scrub radius
Steering ratio
Toe and Wheelbase
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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Some attributes or aspects of vehicle dynamics are purely due

to mass and its distribution. These include:
Center of mass
Moment of inertia
Roll moment
Sprung mass
Unsprung mass
Weight distribution

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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Some attributes or aspects of vehicle dynamics are purely dynamic.

These include:
Body flex and Body roll
Bump Steer
Directional stability
Critical speed, Speed wobble
Noise, vibration, and harshness
Pitch and Ride quality
Understeer, oversteer, lift-off oversteer, Yaw and fishtailing
Weight transfer and load transfer
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Vehicle Dynamics Lecture-1

Some attributes of vehicle dynamics can be attributed directly to

the tires. These include:
Circle of forces, Cornering force , Radial Force Variation
Contact patch, Ground pressure and Camber thrust,
Relaxation length
Rolling resistance and Tire load sensitivity
Self aligning torque
Slip angle
Steering ratio

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