Course syllabus for Vehicle motion engineering

Statics (equilibrium, forces and moments, free body diagrams) Kinematics and kinetics (linear and angular motions, mainly in one plane) Dynamic systems, differential equations (basic level) Linear algebra (matrix equations) Stationary vibrations and step response in linear mekanical systems. Successful completion of a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering guarantees the students preparation for the course.

The course aims to that the students should be able to apply their existing knowledge of basic mechanics on road vehicles. The motions of the vehicle body as a rigid body will be analysed separately in three directions: longitudinal, lateral and vertical. The vehicle sub-systems relevant for vehicle response in these directions will be briefly described in words and simple equations. The student will be able to apply the concepts in the course to solve simpler problems for complete vehicle dynamics; both by hand calculations and by developing and using computer models.
 

After the course the student should be able to:

• Describe, explain and calculate the forces acting between the tire and the road during the operation of a vehicle.
• Describe design and basic function of the vehicle systems: propulsion, brake, steering and suspension.
• Do basic models of the above mentioned vehicle systems, capturing such as: front/rear axle drive, anti-dive/anti-squat suspension, axle roll-centre, rack steering, roll-axis.
• Compile the models of the vehicle systems to a vehicle level model, and use it to verify vehicle function requirements for manouvres that mainly are either of longitudinal, lateral and vertical.

The course will treat the vehicle as a whole. Important sub-systems will be identified but no detailed analyses (i.e. 3D elasto-kinematic analyses of suspension linkages) will be undertaken. The course (and compendium) is divided into five modules (chapters) as follows:

• Module 1: Introduction: Introduction to the engineering task of vehicle dynamics engineers. Short recap of basic mathematical and engineering concepts relevant for analyzing vehicle dynamics.
• Module 2: Vehicle interactions: Mainly tyre/road contact, including models for rolling resistance and longitudinal and lateral slip and forces. Briefly about combined longitudinal and lateral slip.
• Module 3: Longitudinal Dynamics: Acceleration/Braking/Gradeability, Energy consumption, Performance. 2-axle vehicle model for longitudinal load shift. Briefly about anti-dive and anti-lift suspension. Descriptive about longitudinal controlled functions.
• Module 4: Lateral Dynamics: Low speed manouvering, Ackermann Steering, One-track model, High speed steady state turning, Stability analysis, Stationary oscillating steering, Transient handling, Briefly about roll-axis and lateral load transfer. Briefly about manouvres on friction limit. Briefly about combined longitudinal and lateral dynamics. Descriptive about lateral controlled functions.
• Module 5: Vertical Dynamics: Ride comfort, Road grip on rough road, Road waviness model, Suspension components (springs and dampers), 1- and 2-Degree of freedom quarter car model, Bounce & Pitch Model. Briefly about non-stationary vertical dynamics.

• Lectures
• Problem solving sessions
• Assignments, including a driving and datalogging session in motion platform simulator

• Compendium
• Lecture presentation slides
• Problems for problem solving and problems from old exams

• Marked assigment reports
• Graded written examination with problem solving