VEHICLE STRUCTURES AND ANALYSIS - 2023/4

Module Overview

Fourth year module for Automotive Engineering Master students

Vehicle structures

Starting from the space required for the major vehicle components different vehicle packaging concepts are introduced. Lightweight chassis structures are described and demonstrated with several examples of current vehicles, including aluminium space frame structures and composite monocoque chassis. The influence of the choice of material in terms of chassis stiffness and the design and manufacturing process is discussed.

Vehicle structure analysis

The Simple Structural Surface (SSS) method is described and applied to basic vehicle bodies to analyse structural load paths. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) requirements of lightweight hybrid and electric vehicles are introduced together with relevant analysis methods. Passive safety aspects in terms of crashworthiness and impact resistance are described. Sustainability considerations are explained with life-cycle assessment methodologies.

Product Life Cycle

The concept of product life cycle in automotive engineering will be introduced and the importance of sustainability in vehicle manufacturing will be discussed.

 

Module provider

Mechanical Engineering Sciences

Module Leader

TAVERNINI Davide (Mech Eng Sci)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Vehicle structures

• Vehicle packaging requirements, constraints and concepts


• Lightweight vehicle structures: space frame and monocoque structures


• Stiffness of structures


• Life cycle assessment

• Simple structural surface method


• Fundamental theories of acoustics in automotive applications


• NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) aspects with particular focus on hybrid and electric vehicles


• Crashworthiness, impact resistance and safety implications

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The module will be assessed by two pieces of coursework assignments:

 

Coursework 1 (30%)

Coursework 2 (70%) 

Module aims

• An introduction to chassis design requirements and constraints in terms of packaging and structural behaviour, including crashworthiness and NVH aspects
• An understanding of the basic techniques used for the design of lightweight vehicle structures
• Provide an insight on the current test standards for crashworthiness of road vehicles and vehicle noise.
• An introduction to product life cycle and its assessment adopted in the automotive industry.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures (in-person)


• Tutorials (in-person)


• Computer laboratory (in-person)


• Captured contents, including Panopto recordings for those live in-person lectures
   


• 95 hours independent studies.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM267

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.