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MECA0004-2

Vehicle performance

[ version française ]

Duration :15h Th, 15h Pr
Credits/ECTS :
2nd "candidature" in civil engineer in architecture3
Holder(s) :Pierre Duysinx
Course contents : The characteristics of a ground vehicle may be described in terms of its performances, handling, and ride. Performance charactristics refer to its ability to accelerate, decelerrate, to develop drawbar pull, and to overcome obstacles. The lecture is mainly focussed on road vehicles, but introduction is also given to railway vehicles.
The follwing points will be adressed:
  • Power plant characteritics (Internal combustion engines, electric motors) transmissions and drivetrains,
  • Road resistance forces: rolling resistance, aerodynamic forces, slope forces,
  • Description and modelling of tire-ground and wheel-rail forces,
  • Description and calculation of performance criteria (maximum speed, acceleration, elasticity, etc.),
  • Fuel consumption and emissions measures, driving cycles, experimental testings,
  • Braking.
Course objective : Mastering the fundamental concept when evaluating vehicle characteristics (performance, handling, ride) and their relationships with the design of ground vehicles under various operating conditions.
Prerequisites : Basic Mechanics (Newton's laws)
Workshops : Written exercices + numerical applications with Ms Excell or Matlab
Organization : 13 lectures (2 hours) - 1s quadrimester
Written notes : Lecture notes + copy of slides (in French)
Reference books (in English):
  • T. Gillespie. AA« Fundamentals of vehicle Dynamics AA», 1992, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • W. Milliken & D. Milliken. AA« Race Car Vehicle Dynamics AA», 1995, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • R. Bosch. AA« Automotive Handbook AA». 5th edition. 2002. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • J.Y. Wong. AA« Theory of Ground Vehicles AA». John Wiley & sons. 1993 (2nd edition) 2001 (3rd edition).
  • G. Genta."Motor Vehicle Dynamics. Modeling and Simulation". World Scientific. 1997.
Assessment : Written exam with books (numerical and theroretical exercices)
Contacts : Pierre Duysinx,
Ground Vehicle Engineering
Institute of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, Building B52
Chemin des chevreuils, 1, 4000 Liège
Téléphone : +32 4 366 9194,
Fax : +32 4 366 9159,
Email : P.Duysinx@ulg.ac.be
Remarks : None




ULg : Students and Studies Administration - Academic Affairs
Contact : Monique Marcourt, direction A.E.E.
Date of data : 8/04/2005
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