Handbook of Automotive Design Analysis

Handbook of Automotive Design Analysis examines promising approaches to automotive design analysis. The discussions are organized based on the major 'technological divisions of motor vehicles: the transmission gearbox and drive line; steering and suspension; and the automobile structure. This handbook is comprised of three chapters; the first of which deals with transmission gearboxes and drive lines. This chapter describes manual-shift gearbox design, synchromesh mechanisms, hydrokinetic automatic gearboxes, drive-line main assemblies, and drive-line losses. The next chapter is about vehicle suspensions and optimum handling performance, with emphasis on two categories of handling of vehicles: steady-state turning (or cornering) and the transient state. The behavior of the steering system, ride parameters, and the design and installation of spring elements are discussed. The third and final chapter focuses on the application of structural design analysis to the automotive structure. After explaining the fundamentals of structural theory in car body design, this book presents the analysis of commercial vehicle body and chassis. Throughout the book, maximum use is made of line-drawings and concise textural presentation to provide the working designer with an easy assimilable account of automotive design analysis. This book will be useful to young automotive engineers and newcomers in automotive design.