Introduction to Automotive engineering – Performance

Introduction to Automotive engineering – Performance

What you’ll learn
What is acceleration and top speed performance what limits it?
What is Handling performance and what are the factors which contribute
What is Braking performance and the Importance of ABS
What is NVH and Ride vibrations, how are they dealt with
What do you mean by vehicle durability and aspects related to structural strength
What constitutes the factors affecting Fuel economy of an IC engine vehicle?
Requirements
Basic Automotive Engineering knowledge
Basic Mathematics and understanding of Basic Physics
Description
Automotive Design is driven by the targets set for performance. Understanding these performance metrics and characteristics is a very important part of the overall Vehicle design process.

This course aims to provide an idea of each of these specific areas of performance related to the Typical IC (internal combustion) engine Vehicle.

Topics covered

Mechanism of Acceleration of the Vehicle

Basic working principles of IC engine

Traction and Power limited acceleration

Limits of Top speed

Relations between tractive force and engine torque

Need for a transmission

Factors which affect Vehicle Handling

Importance of the Tire

Stiff vs Soft suspension

What is Road holding and Grip

Types of tests performed for handling

Steering performance

Basic Physics of Braking

Working mechanism of a Brake system

Stopping distance derived

Slip ratio and its affects

Anti lock braking system working

Relations between Braking and Handling behavior

What are vibrations,

Difference between Ride and NVH

Types of sources, paths

Types of Noise

Basic Concepts of Vibrations

Sensitive touch points related to NVH

How NVH performance is evaluated?

Different aspects of Vehicle Durability

Importance of Material properties to strength

Bending and Torsional stiffness

Trade off of strength vs Weight

Considerations for Design for durability in Vehicle design process

Flow of energy in an engine

Types of losses

Relative Contribution of those losses

Specific Fuel Consumption

What is Thermal efficiency and ways to improve it

Affect of Driving patterns and environment

Ways to improve Vehicle Fuel efficiency

The course is designed to be Beginner friendly and consists of minimal Math with a “First Principles” approach.

If you are a student, engineer working in Automotive industry or an enthusiast wanting to learn about Automobiles this course will give you a Holistic understanding of Performance Criteria which matters and build a conceptual intuitive understanding of underlying principles.

This course doesn’t deal in-depth in any of the area only deals with “what matters” .

This course may not be for you if you are looking for a highly analytical approach .

This course is suitable for you if already know some basics of cars but want to know the engineering connections in performance.

Knowledge compiled in the course is partly academic and partly related to my experiences and learning throughout my working stint at an Automotive manufacturer as a mechanical design engineer .

Who this course is for:
Engineering students who want to build awareness about Automobile engineering
Enthusiasts who know basic Google level knowledge but want to understand the why behind each performance criteria of vehicle