Module 6:
Scenario:
You are a design engineer at a renowned automotive company specializing in
developing high-performance sports cars. Your team has the task of optimizing
various aspects of a new sports car model to ensure superior handling, braking, and
overall performance on the track. As part of your responsibilities, you need to
calculate and evaluate several key parameters related to steering,
suspension, braking, and cooling system design. Question:
Consider a high-performance sports car equipped with advanced steering and
suspension systems, designed for optimal handling and performance on the
racetrack. Using the provided formulas, calculate the following parameters for
this sports car:
1. Steering ratio:
Given:
- Steering wheel angle = 540 degrees (1.5 revolutions)
- Wheel angle = 45 degrees
Answer: Formula: Steering Ratio = Steering Wheel Angle / Wheel Angle
=540/45 =12.67=Steering ration
Therefore, the steering ratio of the vehicle is 12.67. This means that for every 12.67
degrees of rotation of the steering wheel, the wheels turn 1 degree.
2. Steering effort calculation (Total Kingpin Torque Required to steer an axle):
Given:
- Weight on the axle (W) = 800 kg
- Friction coefficient (f) = 0.15
- Track width (B) = 1.5 m
- Effective radius (E) = 0.4 m
Answer: Formula: T = W * f * √( ( B2 / 8 ) + E2)
Where,
T = Total Kingpin Torque required to steer axle.
W = Vehicle Weight supported by the steered axle.
f = Coefficient of friction (dimensionless).
- B = Nominal width of the tire print
Now calculate total kingpin torque required to steer axle.
T=800x0.15xunderroutof(1.5x1.5/8+0.4x0.4)=800x0.15xunderroutof(.44125)=800x.1
5x.66=79.71 NM
Therefore, the total kingpin torque required to steer the axle is approximately, 79.71
Nm
3. Stiffness of a spring or suspension: Given:
- Force applied (F) = 2000 N
- Displacement (Δx) = 0.05 m
Answer: Formula: k = F / Δx
where,
k is the stiffness of the spring or suspension system (N/m)
F is the force applied to the spring or suspension system (N)
Δx is the displacement or change in length of the spring or suspension system
resulting from the applied force (m)
Stiffness of a spring is k=2000/0.05=40000N/m
4. Braking force:
Given:
- Friction coefficient (µ) = 0.8
- Normal force (Fn) = 1500 N
Answer: Formula : Fb = 2 * μ * Fn
Where,
Fb is the braking force
μ is the coefficient of friction between the pad and the disc
Fn is the normal force
There for Fb the braking force exerted on the car is=2x.8x1500=2400N
5. Total load acting on chassis:
Given:
- Weight of chassis frame = 1200 kg
- Weight of persons = 400 kg
- Weight of other components = 300 kg
Answer: Formula: Total Load on Chassis = Weight of Chassis Frame + Weight of
Persons + Weight of Other Components=1200+400+300=1900Kg
6. Speed ratio:
Given:
- Maximum speed = 300 km/h
- Base speed = 100 km/h
Answer: Formula: Speed Ratio = Maximum Speed / Base Speed=300/100=3
7. Volume of PCM in cell :
Given:
- Density of PCM in cell (ρ) = 1000 kg/m^3
- Density of PCM in cell (ρ) = 1000 kg/m^3
- Power absorbed (P) = 5000 W
- Time of power absorption (t) = 1800 seconds
Answer-PCM for cooling:
Formula: V * ρ * L = P * t
Where,
V = Volume of PCM in cell (m3)
ρ = Density of PCM in cell (kg/m3)
L = Latent heat of fusion of PCM (per kg)
P = Power absorbed (Watt)
t = Time of power absorption (seconds)
Therefore V= Pxt/Desity/L=5000x1800/1000x1000=9m^3
(L=1000 Watt/Kg considered however not given)
8. Toe alignment:
Given:
- Front tire distance = 1.2 m
- Rear tire distance = 1.15 m
Answer=
Front tire distance = 1.2 m
Rear tire distance = 1.15 m
Now lets calculate the toe alignment by using the formula,
Toe Alignment=Front tire distance - rear tire distance
Toe Alignment = Front tire distance − Rear tire distance
Toe Alignment = 1.2 - 1.15
Toe Alignment = 0.05
Therefore, the toe alignment of the vehicle is 0.05m. This positive value indicates
that the front of the tires is wider apart than the rear, which is known as toe-in
alignment.
For each parameter, perform the necessary calculations using the formulas and
provide the results.
