1. Appraise the major components within vehicles and arrange them into appropriate combinations to form a viable chassis design. (AHEP 3: SM1p/SM1m, SM3p/SM3m, EA2p/EA2m, EA4p/EA4m, D3p/D3m, D6p/D6m, ET4p/ET4m, ET5p/ET5m, EP2p/EP2m, EP3p/EP3m, EP4p/EP4m, GSa, GSb, GSc, GSd) Knowledge and Understanding

2. Propose the appropriate calculable areas which affect handing and stability and use these to critically analyse safety and handling within vehicle design. (AHEP 3: SM1p/SM1m, SM2p/SM2m, EA1p/EA1m, EA2p/EA2m, EA3p/EA3m, D3p/D3m, D6p/D6m, ET4p/ET4m, ET5p/ET5m, EP2p/EP2m, EP3p/EP3m, EP4p/EP4m, GSa, GSb, GSc, GSd)
Problem Solving
Reflection

3. Inspect and investigate engine operating cycles, components and alternative power systems to critically compare the key performance indicators of different types of engine and powertrain systems. (AHEP 3: SM1p/SM1m, SM2p/SM2m, SM4m, EA1p/EA1m, EA2p/EA2m, EA3p/EA3m, EA5m, D3p/D3m, D6p/D6m ET4p/ET4m, ET5p/ET5m, EP2p/EP2m, EP3p/EP3m, EP4p/EP4m, GSa, GSb, GSc, GSd) Enquiry
Knowledge and Understanding
Problem Solving

4. Analyse, plan and execute ‘set-up’ strategies from a set-up sheet and record the relevant data and set-up information into an appropriate format. (AHEP 3: D3p/D3m, D6p/D6m ET1p/ET1m, EP3p/EP3m, EP4p/EP4m, EP9p/EP11m, GSa, GSb, GSc, GSd)
Knowledge and Understanding
Communication
Application

This module will introduce you to the principles and operation of the major vehicle components including vehicle chassis, transmissions, suspension and steering. You will need to consider the effect that design choices you make have on the overall performance and handling of the vehicle. By investigating various powertrains, from internal combustion engines to alternative hybrid and electric systems, you will be able to compare their influence and prioritise key areas of vehicle design for motorsport. In the workshop you will see these areas in practice before returning to software to simulate and innovate. As part of this module, you will build a system to allow you to compare and evaluate vehicle characteristics by calculating their key performance indicators for various racing scenarios.

This module will enable students to gain understanding, apply knowledge, analyse and evaluate problems and create solutions through a variety of activities, including:
• Lectures
• Seminars, Tutorials/Labs within workshop and computer lab.
• Student centred learning

Balkwill, J., (2017) Performance Vehicle Dynamics: Engineering and Applications, Butterworth-Heinemann

Bell, A. G., (1999) Two-Stroke Performance Tuning 2nd Ed. Haynes

Bell, A. G., (2012) Four-Stroke Performance Tuning 4th Ed. Haynes

Blair, G. P., (1996) Design and Simulation of Two-Stroke Engines, SAE International

Blair, G. P., (1999) Design and Simulation of Four-Stroke Engines, SAE International

Ehsani, M., Gao, Y., Longo, S. and Ebrahimi, K., (2018) Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles 3rd Ed. CRC Press

Ferguson, C. R. and Kirkpatrick. A. T., (2015) Internal Combustion Engines: Applied Thermosciences 3rd Ed. Wiley-Blackwell

Heisler, H., (1998) Vehicle and Engine Technology, Butterworth-Heinemann 2nd Ed.

Seward, D., (2014) Race Car Design Palgrave Macmillan

Smith, J., (2013) Smith’s Fundamentals of Motorsport Engineering OUP Oxford
Staniforth, A., (2006) Competition Car Suspension: A Practical Handbook 4th Ed. Haynes

Staniforth, A., (2002) Race and Rally Car Source Book 4th Ed. Haynes

Stone, R., (2012) Introduction to Internal Combustion Engines 4th Ed. Palgrave Macmillan

Zuijdijk, J., (2013) Vehicle Dynamics and Damping, AuthorHouse

Automotive Workshop; including engine facilities and vehicles
PC based software; CAD, Ricardo WAVE, Excel, MATLAB and Simulink, AIM, MOTEC and PI Research

80% Assignment; a 3000 word report incorporating analysis, research and diagrams across the studied areas - assessing all learning outcomes and 20% Group Presentation – assessing all learning outcomes

Formative assessment will be provided through tutor response to non-assessed tasks throughout the module and feedback on your work during tutorials and drop-in sessions.