Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics (R114)

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 519 pages
• Published by: SAE International March 1992
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1560911999
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1560911999
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Weighs: 1.8 pounds

Product Review
"Fills the gap between popularized books with spare engineering content and the very theoretical books." -- Heavy Vehicle Systems

"The absolutely definitive book on automotive suspensions Accessible to the non-specialist." -- Road & Track

Product Description
The first book providing comprehensive coverage of vehicle dynamics in a single volume, Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics provides a foundation of engineering principles and analytical methods to explain the performance of an automotive vehicle, with chapters focusing on: acceleration performance; braking performance; aerodynamics and rolling resistance; ride; tires; steady-state cornering; suspensions; steering systems; and rollover.

Acceleration, braking, turning, and ride are among the most fundamental properties of a motor vehicle. To understand the vehicle as a system, it is necessary to acquire a knowledge of all these modes. Motion is the common denominator of all these modes; thus, the study of this field is denoted as vehicle dynamics.

Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics introduces the basic mechanics governing vehicle performance, and familiarizes the reader with analytical methods and terminology.

This book attempts to find a middle ground by balancing engineering principles and equations of use to every automotive engineer with practical explanations of the mechanics involved, so that those without a formal engineering degree can still comprehend and use most of the principles discussed.

Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics provides thorough coverage of these subjects: Fundamental Approach to Modeling; Power-Limited Acceleration; Braking Forces; Anti-Lock Brake Systems; Aerodynamics; Rolling Resistance; Vehicle Response Properties; High-Speed Cornering; Independent Suspensions; Front Wheel Geometry; Transient Rollover; Dynamic Axle Loads; Traction-Limited Acceleration; Tire-Road Friction; Rear-Wheel Lockup; Drag; Total Road Loads; Vibration; Solid Axles; Roll Center Analysis; Front Wheel Drive; and Tire Construction.

Either as an introductory text or a practical professional overview, Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics is an ideal reference on the forces and factors affecting the movements of a vehicle - accelerating, braking, ride, and turning.

Reader Reviews
My background is in computer engineering. As such, I have a basic understanding of kinematics, but approached this book with little knowledge of physics as specifically applied to vehicles. I found this book to be a perfect first step into the field. It picked up essentially where my knowledge left off and provided solid coverage of the topics discussed. Due to the nature of the book--an introductory text--simplifications often had to be made; in these cases the simplifications were pointed out, often with references to publications covering the areas more fully. Furthermore, I felt that all topics were evenly covered--no one got undue attention. Basically, the book was just what I was looking for. My only significant pet peeves are the use of English-system measurements (I am more comfortable with metric), and a few cases of unexplained 'magic numbers' in formulas (it took me a minute to realize that 57.3 is the number of degrees in a radian). And plot and character development were pretty thin (grin).