Making of an Intro to Vehicle Dynamics course

[Ben Mies]

So, I'm taking a course in college education as an aside from my normal research. We've been asked, as our major project, to plan a course that we would likely teach. I've chosen to take the opportunity to examine how I'd teach a course on an intro to vehicle dynamics to a class of about 30 Junior level ME students.

I'll fill you in on my thoughts, but first do you all have any strong opinions right off the bat? An order that you would prefer to see? An experience that was good, bad and why?

Thanks for any input.

[Ben Mies]

So, I'm taking a course in college education as an aside from my normal research. We've been asked, as our major project, to plan a course that we would likely teach. I've chosen to take the opportunity to examine how I'd teach a course on an intro to vehicle dynamics to a class of about 30 Junior level ME students.

I'll fill you in on my thoughts, but first do you all have any strong opinions right off the bat? An order that you would prefer to see? An experience that was good, bad and why?

Thanks for any input.

[J.R.]

Im in a VD course right now, we start with tyres, and move onto bicycle model, and then will hit load transfer, all using RCVD. Hope this helps.

[Ben Mies]

J.R.

Obviously those of interested in the automotive realm of engineering, particularly at the level of FSAE, are at a bit of advantage in a course like vehicle dynamics. As such, a text like RCVD is great, but do you feel like its an overwhelming text for others in the class?

I'm considering basing it off Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics - Gillespie and using supplemental sections from RCVD as necessary.

[PSUAlum06]

I'd agree with the choice of Gillespie over RCVD for an introductory course. But are you sure you really need a text at all? The VD course I had as an undergrad didn't use a textbook and it was more than adequate. The PSU course notes are available here if you want to check them out.

http://www.mne.psu.edu/syllabi/Sp08/ME452.pdf

But yeah, start with Tires, move onto the Bicycle model/ steady-state handling, and then start talking about some suspension effects.

[Ben Mies]

Thanks for the response.

Yeah, I'm not sure a dedicated text book is necessary. I'll include Gillespie in this course design as, well, I need to provide a book under required texts.

This is how I have things ordered so far based on my experience...

Intro to Course
Intro to Vehicle Dynamics
Fundamental Modeling Approach
Dynamic Axle Loads
Traction Circle
Tires and Surface
Suspension Basics
Longitudinal Forward Acceleration
Braking
Road Loads (resistance, aero, grade, etc)
Ride
Steady State Cornering
Suspension Advanced
Steering
Rollover
Dynamic Cornering (more into understeer, oversteer, etc)
Tires Advanced
Damping
Back to tires, susp for a bit
Wrapping it all up

I think we all know how hard it is to break this all up. Coupled mechanisms, the car, are hard to teach around.

[Mike Macie]

I would recommend a text book. The RCVD text book is basically for reference at UB. You also have to understand that some people taking the course will not have any related background knowledge or experience.

[J.R.]

The nice thing about RCVD as a text is that there is the supplemental problem book that was made. This allows students a chance to practice problems, as they would normally for a college teaching text. I'm not familiar with the Gillespie book, but most VD books are not written with questions like other textbooks.

I don't think that RCVD is as hard to understand as everyone makes it out to be. The book is fairly clear in its explanations, the only thing is that there is a ton of info. If you had a teacher guiding you through which sections are important and not, then it becomes very useful. Our VD professor has been awesome in directing me to important parts of the book for FSAE, and I think it's a great choice for the class as well.