CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION TO MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINEERING

Automobile engineering is the one of the stream of mechanical engineering. It deals with the
various types of automobiles, their mechanism of transmission systems and its applications.
Automobiles are the different types of vehicles used for transportation of passengers, goods, etc.
Basically all the types of vehicles works on the principle of internal combustion processes or
sometimes the engines are called as internal combustion engines.

Different types of fuels are burnt inside the cylinder at higher temperature to get the transmission
motion in the vehicles. Most of the automobiles are internal combustion engines vehicles only.
Therefore, every mechanical and automobile engineer should have the knowledge of automobile
engineering its mechanism and its various applications.

1.2 DEFINITION

Automobile engineering is a branch of engineering which deals with everything about automobiles
and practices to propel them. Motor vehicle is a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine
and it is used for transportation of passengers and goods on the ground. Automobile can also be
defined as a vehicle which can move by itself.

1.3 Classification of motor vehicle

We can classifies a motor vehicle depending on different criteria.

No Classification criteria Types of motor vehicle

1 Types of road  Guided motor vehicle
 Non-guided motor vehicle
 Passenger car
2 Depending  Buses
on purpose  Transport vehicle
 Special motor vehicle
 Two wheel vehicle
3 Depending on wheels  Three wheel vehicle
 Four wheel vehicle etc
4 Depending on fuel  Gasoline
 Diesel
 Front engine front wheel
drive (FEFWD)
 Front engine rear wheel
drive (FERWD)
5 Depending on  Rear engine rear wheel
drive (RERWD)
engine layout  Four wheel drive (4WD)
 All wheel drive
Four wheel drive

Front engine rear wheel

Four wheel drive

Front engine Front wheel
drive

Rear engine rear wheel Six wheel drive

drive

1.4Major system of motor vehicle and their function

• Chassis and Frame

• Power plant: Engine

• Drive train: Clutch, gear Box, Shaft and Differential

• Electrical System: Ignition, Starting Lighting and battery

• Wheels and tires

• Suspension System
 • Steering System
• Braking System

1.4.1 Chassis and Frame :

The chassis is formed by the frame with the frame side members and cross members. The frame
is usually made of box, tubular and channel members that are welded or riveted together.

In addition to this, it comprises of the springs with the axles and wheels, the steering system and
the brakes, the fuel tank, the exhaust system, the radiator, the battery and other accessories. Along
with this the frame supports the body.

1.4.2 Engine or Power Plant:

The engine is the power plant of the vehicle. In general, internal combustion engine with petrol or
diesel fuel is used to run a vehicle. An engine may be either a two-stroke engine or a four-stroke
engine. An engine consists of a cylinder, piston, valves, valve operating mechanism, carburetor
(or MPFI in modern cars), fan, fuel feed pump and oil pump, etc. Besides this, an engine requires
ignition system for burning fuel in the engine cylinder.

1.4.3 Transmission System (Clutch and Gear Box):

The power developed by the engine is transferred to the wheels by transmission system.
Transmission system must do three jobs:

 It must provide varying gear ratios. Number of gear ratio are equal to number of gears in
a vehicle.
 It must provide a reverse gear for moving vehicle in reverse direction.
 It must provide a neutral or disconnecting arrangement so that the engine can be
uncoupled from the wheels of the vehicle.
1.4.4 Tire and wheel

The tires are crucial functional elements for the transmission of longitudinal, lateral and vertical
forces between the vehicle and road.

1.4.5 Braking System

Brakes are used to slow down or stop the vehicle. Hydraulic brakes are generally used in
automobiles, where brakes are applied by pressure on a fluid. Mechanical brakes are also used in
some vehicles. These brakes are operated by means of leavers, linkages, pedals, cams, etc. Hand
brake or parking brake is known usually mechanical brake. These are used for parking the vehicles
on sloppy surfaces and also in case of emergency.

1.4.6 Steering System:

In front wheels can be turned to left and right by steering system so that the vehicle can be steered.
The steering wheel is placed in front of driver. It is mechanically linked to the wheels to provide
the steering control. The primary function of the steering system is to provide angular motion to
front wheels so that vehicle can negotiate a turn.

It also provides directional stability to vehicle when the vehicle moves ahead in straight line. Now-
a-days, many vehicles are equipped with power steering which uses pressure of a fluid to reduce
steering effort. When driver turns the steering wheel, a hydraulic mechanism comes into play to
provide most of the effort needed to turn the wheel.

Steering

Tire and wheel

Braking
system

Engine

Transmission
1.4.7 Suspension System

Suspension system of an automobile separates the wheel and axle assembly of the automobile from
its body. Main function of the suspension system is to isolate the body of the vehicle from shocks
and vibrations generated due to irregularities on the surface of roads. Shock absorbers are provided
in the vehicles for this purpose. It is in the form of spring and damper. The suspension system is
provided both on front end and rear end of the vehicle. A suspension system also maintains the
stability of the vehicle in pitching or rolling when vehicle is in motion.

1.5 Requirements of Vehicle

 Carrying people and/or goods,
 Safely, comfortably and economically
 Good interaction between driver and Vehicle
 Vehicle should lessen the driver

Vehicle Dynamics
Vehicle dynamics mainly deals with

 The improvement of active safety and driving comfort as well as

 The reduction of road destruction.
The Expression ’Vehicle Dynamics’ encompasses the interaction of

 Driver,
 Vehicle load and
 Environment
Vehicle Provides the Driver with some Information
Vibration Longitudinal, Lateral, Vertical
Vehicle Sound Motor, Aerodynamics, tires Driver
Instructions Velocity

Driver can interfere with the vehicle

Steering Wheel Lateral Dynamics

Gas Pedal
Drive Brake Pedal
Clutch Longitudinal dynamics
Gear Shift
Environment influence the driver & Vehicle

Climate
Environment Traffic density Driver
Track

Road Irregularities, coefficient of Friction

Environment Driver
Air Resistance, cross wind
Vehicle Performance, Handling and Ride
Characteristics of a ground vehicle may be described in terms of

Performance. The ability of the vehicle to accelerate, to develop drawbar pull, to overcome
obstacles, and to decelerate
Handling. Concerned with the response of the vehicle to the driver's commands and its ability to
stabilize its motion against external disturbances.
Ride. Related to the vibration of the vehicle excited by surface irregularities and its effects on
passengers and goods.

Visual and Other Ground

Inputs Conditions

Accelerator PERFORMANCE
Brakes
Driver

Steering system HANDLING

VEHICLE

Surface RIDE
Irregularities

Aerodynamic
Inputs