Through appendices and diagrams, Car Suspension and Handling, 4th Edition outlines the purpose and history of vehicle suspension systems, while defining the basic parameters of suspension geometry. In addition, the book delves into human sensitivity to vibration, and offers data on durability, tire background information, steering calculations and suspension calculations.
Do you really know what oversteer and understeer are all about? This helpful guide will teach you about steering and suspension, and discuss why all cars handle so differently. Not a stuffy technical book, but practical information and a straightforward text to help you understand your car's suspension.
Competition car suspensions are a vital ingredient for winning performance. This third edition has been fully updated to reflect the latest developments and revolutionary changes in racing technology, and in the rules of racing. Staniforth explains the theory and practice of successful suspension engineering, and explores in an easy-to-understand and readable style how and why suspension systems work. Includes coverage of the banning of active suspensions. Updated & expanded 3rd ed.
Semi-Active Suspension Control Design for Vehicles presents a comprehensive discussion of designing control algorithms for semi-active suspensions. It also covers performance analysis and control design. The book evaluates approaches to different control theories, and it includes methods needed for analyzing and evaluating suspension performances, while identifying optimal performance bounds. The structure of the book follows a classical path of control-system design; it discusses the actuator or the variable-damping shock absorber, models and technologies. It also models and discusses the vehicle that is equipped with semi-active dampers, and the control algorithms. The text can be viewed at three different levels: tutorial for novices and students; application-oriented for engineers and practitioners; and methodology-oriented for researchers. The book is divided into two parts. The first part includes chapters 2 to 6, in which fundamentals of modeling and semi-active control design are discussed. The second part includes chapters 6 to 8, which cover research-oriented solutions and case studies. The text is a comprehensive reference book for research engineers working on ground vehicle systems; automotive and design engineers working on suspension systems; control engineers; and graduate students in control theory and ground vehicle systems. - Appropriate as a tutorial for students in automotive systems, an application-oriented reference for engineers, and a control design-oriented text for researchers that introduces semi-active suspension theory and practice - Includes explanations of two innovative semi-active suspension strategies to enhance either comfort or road-holding performance, with complete analyses of both - Also features a case study showing complete implementation of all the presented strategies and summary descriptions of classical control algorithms for controlled dampers
To make your car handle, design a suspension system, or just learn about chassis, you’ll find what you need here. Basic suspension theory is thoroughly covered: roll center, roll axis, camber change, bump steer, anti-dive, ride rate, ride balance and more. How to choose, install and modify suspensions and suspension hardware for best handling: springs, sway bars, shock absorbers, bushings, tired and wheels. Regardless of the basic layout of your car—front engine/rear drive, front engine/front drive, or rear engine/rear drive—it is covered here. Aerodynamic hardware and body modifications for reduced drag, high-speed stability and increased cornering power: spoilers, air dams, wings and ground-effects devices. How to modify and set up brakes for maximum stopping power and handling. The most complete source of handling information available. “Suspension secrets” explained in plain, understandable language so you can be the expert.
Through appendices and diagrams, Car Suspension and Handling, 4th Edition outlines the purpose and history of vehicle suspension systems, while defining the basic parameters of suspension geometry. In addition, the book delves into human sensitivity to vibration, and offers data on durability, tire background information, steering calculations and suspension calculations.
Hand-selected by racing engineer legend Carroll Smith, the 28 SAE Technical Papers in this book focus on the chassis and suspension design of pure racing cars, an area that has traditionally been - farmed out - to independent designers or firms since the early 1970s. Smith believed that any discussion of vehicle dynamics must begin with a basic understanding of the pneumatic tire, the focus of the first chapter. The racing tire connects the racing car to the track surface by only the footprints of its four tires. Through the tires, the driver receives most of the sensory information needed to maintain or regain control of the race car at high force levels. The second chapter, focusing on suspension design, is an introduction to this complex and fascinating subject. Topics covered include chassis stiffness and flexibility, suspension tuning on the cornering of a Winston Cup race car, suspension kinematics, and vehicle dynamics of road racing cars. Chapter 3 addresses the design of the racing chassis design and how aerodynamics affect the chassis, and the final chapter on materials brings out the fact that the modern racing car utilizes carbon construction to the maximum extent allowed by regulations. These technical papers, written between 1971 and 2003, offer what Smith believed to be the best and most practical nuggets of racing chassis and suspension design information.
Semi-active Suspension Control provides an overview of vehicle ride control employing smart semi-active damping systems. These systems are able to tune the amount of damping in response to measured vehicle-ride and handling indicators. Two physically different dampers (magnetorheological and controlled-friction) are analysed from the perspectives of mechatronics and control. Ride comfort, road holding, road damage and human-body modelling are studied. Mathematical modelling is balanced by a large and detailed section on experimental implementation, where a variety of automotive applications are described offering a well-rounded view. The implementation of control algorithms with regard to real-life engineering constraints is emphasised. The applications described include semi-active suspensions for a saloon car, seat suspensions for vehicles not equipped with a primary suspension, and control of heavy-vehicle dynamic-tyre loads to reduce road damage and improve handling.
Want to improve handling, straight-line performance or fuel economy? In that case, you'll achieve best results by modifying your vehicle's aerodynamics. This handbook is a must-read that takes you from testing the standard car through to making sophisticated aerodynamic modifications that have real impact.