2023-2024 / MECA0525-1

Performance and dynamics of vehicles

Duration

30h Th, 15h Pr, 4h Labo., 8h Proj., 1d FW

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Mechanical Engineering (EMSHIP+, Erasmus Mundus)5 crédits 
 Certificate in sustainable automotive engineering (non organisé en 2023-2024)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Mustapha Belhabib, Pierre Duysinx

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The characteristics of ground vehicles 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 following points will be adressed:



  • Power source 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 performance,
  • Tire mechanics,
  • Steering geometry (Ackerman theory)
  • Steady state handling of a two-axle vehicle: including bicycle model, under/oversteer gradient,
  • Influence of roll, load transfer, camber, roll steer, suspension compliance, front wheel traction
  • Transient reponse of a two-axle vehicle
  • 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 mechanics and accident mechanics
 

 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

  • To master the fundamental concepts of vehicle performance when evaluating their characteristics (performance, handling, ride) and their relationships with the design variables under various operating conditions.
  • To understand the theoretical concepts and to apply them in numerical exercices.
  • To be able to write a computer code in MATLAB or in PYTHON to calculate the performance and the dynamic behaviour of a raod vehicle at the preliminary design stage.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes II.1, II.2, III.1, III.2, III.3, IV.1, IV.10, IV.11, IV.3, IV.4, IV.9, V.1, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.3, VII.4, VII.5 of the MSc in mechanical engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Knowledge in Theoretical Mechanics, Machine Design and Construction, Vibration of Mechanical Systems, Control Systems, Applied Thermodynamics.
 
 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Closed-form exercices, computer exercices (MATLAB or PYTHON), laboratory (chassis dynamometer).
 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Additional information:

The lectures are given on Thursday morning at the second quadrimester (from beginning of February to end of May). 13 lectures (4 hours) + one laboratorie.
The industrial seminars are face-to-face or by videoconference.
Entrepise visits in person.
Exam in June.
 
 

Recommended or required readings

Lecture notes

  • Copy of slides (in English)
  • Text book (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)
  • 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.
 

 

 

 

 

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report


Additional information:

  • Oral exam (theory: 60%). Students can handle hand-written templates of their answers to the questions covering the matter of the course.
  • Laboratory reports (5%)
  • Computer work (35%)
 

 

 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

None

Contacts

Pierre Duysinx, LTAS - Automotive Engineering Institute of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, Building B52 Allée de la Découverte 13A, 4000 Liège Téléphone : +32 4 366 9194, Fax : +32 4 366 9159, Email : P.Duysinx@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs