DECENT BOOKS TO READ??

[Rob Davies]

So I will be working on the car for the first (and only) time next year (such is the setup at Lancaster Uni.
Just wondering if anyone could reccomend a few decent books so I can get a head start on learning all about how to design such a car. There is alot of terminology i hear on these boards that I have NO clue what they mean (dry sump comes to mind).
So id like a decent book to read over this summer to get a little knowledge, I dont even know that much about road cars let alone race cars. We only do a Mechanical Engineering degree here, so no Automotive knowledge or anything.

Thanks, Robert Davies

[Denny Trimble]

On the chassis side (suspension + frame), start with the Carroll Smith Book Set (http://www.sae.org/servlets/productDetail?PROD_TYP=BOOK&PROD_CD=B-706.SET).

[DaveH]

Race and Rally Car Source Book by Allan Staniforth is a good general book too.

And if you really want to learn about vehicle dynamics then sign up for the Claude Rouelle seminar in July, its well worth the money.

This post may help:
http://fsae.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=763607348&f=125607348&m=1956095883&r=7156045093#7156045093

Dave

[Richy O]

If your after a good book that covers all the car basics, this book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0748705317/qid=1085955728/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_11_7/026-4649615-2646060) is fantastic.

[Rob Davies]

ive been looking for this claude rouelle thing and you say he is worth it, man he must be good for 950 bucks. Prob might be worthwile for one member of the team to go paid for by the uni but no student can afford that out of their own pocket
From my reckoning he doesnt come to uk till late november tho - where did u get the july date from?

Yeah I look a little bit silly asking this question now as that other post has looooads of books on it. Should be less hasty next time

Cheers anyway guys.

[RiNaZ]

hey rob, claude's seminar is usually after the Formula Student competition and usually cost around 200++ Euro i think. You can do a search on this forum on UK MOTEC SEMINAR.

i just went to the seminar too and i can tell you that i was mentally drained. Not only did we spent about 14 hours on the 2nd day, but trying to catch up with Claude's accent is just overwhelming http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif (maybe it's just me). Just to give you a head start ... when he says ...

Tranjent = transient, or transition or transit
eunt do stear = understeer
inloading = unloading

that's all i could remember right now.

And also, try to read about vehicle dynamic as much as you can. It's gonna be hard for you to keep up if you have no idea what he talks about. He's obviously wont explain it to you what roll steer is (unless you ask him).

And make sure you bring a tape recorder or audio recorder, im sure you're gonna miss a lot of what he's going to talk about. Plus, ask a lot of question (i made the mistake of not asking him questions, so i was lost most of the time during his seminar).

[Big Bird]

Rinaz, you forgot the classic Claudism - chocolat = shock eyelet. You see I mean?

Rob, (and anyone else for that matter), try the following website for basic info on suspension and handling- http://www.rqriley.com/suspensn.html
Its a pretty simple article, but has lots of neat little gif images on steering axis inclination, camber, castor, etc. Will help you visualize what all the terms mean, so you can then tackle the big books like Milliken, etc.

Good luck with your car, come up and say hello at FStudent.

Cheers,

[Rob Davies]

Yeah just been looking on the Formula Student website and Claude is gonna do a presentation on 12-14 July. 265 pounds it is. Heres the info

http://www.imeche.org.uk/formulastudent/pdf/MOTEC%20Student%20seminar%202004.pdf

Unfortunately, I wont be able to go, or see any of you guys at Formula Student since im headed to the States this summer. Iowa to be exact. Did a years exchange at ISU and now I cant keep away. Might also be the fact I have a lady friend over there too.

Good day, Rob

[RiNaZ]

I forgot about those big bird heheh ... it's just funny thinking about it right now. Those annoying "you see i mean?" heheh.

[MikeWaggoner at UW]

I really like the physics of racing series, and it's free:

http://www.miata.net/sport/Physics/

[jack]

hahahaha...its funny to read interpretations of claude's accent after the seminar.
i would say it was worth $230 just for the jokes he told!

comedy and vehicle dynamics for the price of one!

you see i mean? hehehe

[John Bucknell]

Scroll down, it's updated....

[osubeaver]

Also, Race Car Vehical Dynamics by Milikin for suspension. Advanced Engine Technology by Heinz Heisler for engine stuff.

[BeaverGuy]

I would add Intoduction to Internal Combustion Engines by Richard Stone and Compact Heat Exchangers by Kays and London

I also hear that Design and Simulation of 4-Stoke Engine by Gordon P. Blair is very good too. His recent articles on resticted intake design,Breathing Easy, in Race Engine Technology Autumn 2003 and Winter2003/2004 is a good jumping off point too.

[John Bucknell]

Finally found my complete reading list (duplicates of the above, yes - but more commentary):

Prepare to Win, Tune to Win, Engineer to Win, Drive to Win by Carroll Smith
Classics on car preparation, chassis tuning, structures and driving. Carroll Smith was one of the most respected race engineers ever.

Performance Handling - How to Make Your Car Handle by Don Alexander
ISBN 0-87938-418-2 Motorbooks International, 1991
Good primer on how and why cars handle.

Race Car Engineering and Mechanics by Paul Van Valkenburgh
ISBN 1-55788-064-6 HP Books, 1992
Equivalent to Carroll Smith's work by someone who had done it all. Much discussion of components and systems and ideas on how to go faster. One of my favorites.

Race Car Chassis - Design and Construction by Forbes Aird
ISBN 0-7603-0283-9 Motorbooks International, 1997
Excellent frame design book, only one like it I have seen.

Racer's Encyclopedia of Metals, Fibers and Materials by Forbes Aird
ISBN 0-87938-916-8 Motorbooks International, 1994
Comparison of racing materials, and what makes them good or bad alternatives for various subsystems including brakes and driveline.

Race and Rally Car Source Book by Allan Staniforth
ISBN 0-85429-848-7 JH Haynes & Co. Ltd. 1992
Another complete guide to race car development. Concentrates on dynamics of suspensions and much comparitive data.

The Anatomy and Development of the Formula One Racing Car from 1975 by Sal Incandela
ISBN 0-85429-714-6 Haynes Publishing Group, 1990
A how and why top level racing cars look like they do today. Great drawings and good explanations of what works and doesn't.

The Anatomy and Development of the Sports Prototype Racing Car by Ian Bamsley
ISBN 0-87938-586-3 Motorbooks International, 1991
Similar to the above, but with sports car bodies.

Vehicle and Engine Technology by Heinz Heisler
ISBN 0-7680-0237-0 SAE 1999
A huge reference book, an amazing amount of drawings on just about anything related to chassis or powertrain. This and his first book - Advanced Engine Technology will have nearly every subject explained.

The Design and Tuning of Competition Engines by Philip H. Smith
ISBN 0-8376-0140-1 Robert Bentley, Inc. Sixth Edition 1977
History of competition engines (first edition 1954), and how and why they got that way.

Four-Stroke Performance Tuning by A. Graham Bell
ISBN 0-85429-275-6 JH Haynes & Co. Ltd 1993
A straight tuning book, what works and what doesn't converting engines for competition use.

High-Performance Automotive Fuels & Fluids by Jeff Hartman
ISBN 0-7603-0054-2 Motorbooks International, 1996
Overview of fuels and lubrications, and why we use gasoline as a fuel.

The Unfair Advantage by Mark Donahue (as told by Paul Van Valkenburgh)
ISBN 0837600731 Bentley Publishers, 2000
A history of Mark Donahue's racing career. Mark basically invented chassis tuning, and made every mistake new race engineers make, worked through it and eventually became one of the greatest racing drivers ever.
If you read one book on this list, this should be it.

And recent additions:

Ferrari Formula 1: Under the Skin of the Championship-Winning F1-2000 by Peter G. Wright
ISBN 0-7680-1341-0 SAE, 2004
A jaw-dropping technical look inside a modern F1 car. Cutaways, test data, technical drawings, everything. $72 for members.

Driving Ambition: The Official Inside Story of the McLaren F1 by Doug Nye, Ron Dennis, Gordon Murray
ISBN 1852278412 Motorbooks International, 2000
I just love this car, pictures are amazing. This car is twelve years old?! $66 from Amazon

[Paul V.]

Both Dr. Millikens highly recommended Olley's Chassis Engineering. $65 US or so on the SAE website. I have yet to recieve it though. Race car vehicle dynamics is Excellent but you better be ready for heavy reading and re-reading. The Olley book is supposed to be much more math intensive then the Milliken book.


Paul Vaughan
UAH FSAE
Charger Motorsports

[AndyPate]

I was in a similar position to you last year when I joined my uni team. I found books totaly useless, best way is just to get stuck in with the hands on stuff and learn as you go along but and dont be afraid to ask other people when you dont understand what the hell they are talking about!!! http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif