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MECA0004-1

Vehicle performance and behaviour

[ version française ]

Duration :30h Th, 30h Pr
Credits/ECTS :
4th year of the 5 year degree in civil engineering in electromechanics (mecatronics - productics)5
4th year of the 5 year degree in civil engineering in electromechanics (mechanics)5
5th year of the 5 year degree in civil engineering in electromechanics (aerospace)5
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. Handling quantities are concerned with the response of the vehicle to drivers' command and its ability to stabilize its motion against external disturbancies. Ride characteristics are related to the vibration of the vehicle excited by the surface irregularities and its effects on passengers and goods.
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.
  • Tire mechanics
  • Suspension kinematics
  • Steering geometry (Ackerman theory)
  • Steady state handling of a two-axle vehicle: bicycle model, under/oversteer gradient,
  • Transient reponse of a two-axle vehicle
  • Roll-over
  • Human response to vibrations
  • Road vibration isolation: quater car model, sensitivity to sprung and unsprung masses, suspension damping and stiffness
  • Pitch and bounce modelling: two-dof-model
  • Introduction to crash and accident mechanics
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 : Knowledge in Theoretical Mechanics, Machine Design and Construction, Control Systems, Applied Therlmodynamics, Electric Machines.
Workshops : Exercices and compûter exercices (MATLAB), laboratory (chassis dynamometer), e-teaching
Organization : The lectures are given at first quadrimester (from mid september to Dcember). 13 lectures (4 hours) + one laboratory. Exam in January.
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 :
  • Oral exam with books (70 %)
  • Laboratory reports (10%)
  • Computer work (10%)
  • On-line and on-line exercices (10%)
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 : 27/02/2006
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