This undergraduate textbook offers an introduction to automotive engineering. It covers all aspects of present automotive technology, describes the historical evolution of the technology, and supplies tools to analyze vehicle performance.

This book is an introduction to automotive engineering, to give freshmen ideas about this technology. The text is subdivided in parts that cover all facets of the automobile, including legal and economic aspects related to industry and products, product configuration and fabrication processes, historic evolution and future developments.

The first part describes how motor vehicles were invented and evolved into the present product in more than 100 years of development. The purpose is not only to supply an historical perspective, but also to introduce and discuss the many solutions that were applied (and could be applied again) to solve the same basic problems of vehicle engineering. This part also briefly describes the evolution of automotive technologies and market, including production and development processes.

The second part deals with the description and function analysis of all car subsystems, such as:

· vehicle body,

· chassis, including wheels, suspensions, brakes and steering mechanisms,

· diesel and gasoline engines,

· electric motors, batteries, fuel cells, hybrid propulsion systems,

· driveline, including manual and automatic gearboxes.

This part addresses also many non-technical issues that influence vehicle design and production, such as social and economic impact of vehicles, market, regulations, particularly on pollution and safety.

In spite of the difficulty in forecasting the paths that will be taken by automotive technology, the third part tries to open a window on the future. It is not meant to make predictions that are likely to be wrong, but to discuss the trends of automotive research and innovation and to see the possible paths that may be taken to solve the many problems that are at present open or we can expect for the future.

The book is completed by two appendices about the contribution of computers in designing cars, particularly the car body and outliningfundamentals of vehicle mechanics, including aerodynamics, longitudinal (acceleration and braking) and transversal (path control) motion.

Covers all aspects of present automotive technology Describes the historical evolution of automotive technology Supplies tools to analyze vehicle performance Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Giancarlo Genta received his degree in aeronautical engineering (1970) and in aerospace engineering (1971) from the Politecnico di Torino. He started his professional career at the Politecnico di Torino as Assistant of Machine Design and Technologies. In 1983 he was appointed Associate Professor of Aeronautical Engines Design at the Aerospace Engineering School of the Politecnico di Torino; in 1990, he was appointed full professor of the same course. From 1989 to 1995, he served as Director of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Politecnico di Torino. He hold the course of Applied Stress Analysis - II for the joined Master of Science University of Illinois/Politecnico di Torino, at the Politecnico di Torino. He served as a lecturer in the frame of cooperation projects with developing countries, such as in Kenya (2 years), Somalia (6 months), India (1 month) and at the Bureau International du Travail. Since 1996 and 1999, respectively, he has been corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of Turin and the International Academy of Astronautics; he was elected full member of the latter in 2006. Since 1997 he has been coordinating the Research Doctorate in Mechatronics at Politecnico di Torino. He has been active in research in the field of Machine Design, with a focus on static and dynamic structural analysis. He is author of more than 270 scientific publications, covering many aspects of mechanical design. He is the author of 25 scientific books and 3 science fiction novels. Lorenzo Morello received his degree on Mechanical Automotive Engineering in 1968 from the Politecnico of Torino. He started his professional career at the Politecnico as an Assistant of Machine Design and Technologies. In 1971 he moved to FIAT, and contributed to the development of some cars and of experimental prototypes for the ESV US Program. He also developed some mathematical model for vehicle suspension and road holding simulation. In 1977, he was appointed manager of the Vehicle Research Unit at FIAT, where he lead the development of many prototypes, such as a urban bus with unitized thin steel sheet body and spot welded joints and a hybrid car. In 1980 he was appointed manager of the Engines Research Unit in the same company. In 1983, he was appointed Director of Products Development. His Division of about 400 people was carrying out power train, chassis and bodies studies, as well as prototype construction. He then joined Fiat Auto and lead to the development of some new car petrol engines and the direct injection diesel (the first in the world for automobile application). He was appointed Director for Power Train Engineering in 1987. In 1994, he was appointed Director of Vehicle Engineering at Fiat, and guided the design and testing of bodies, chassis components, electric and electronic systems, wind tunnels, safety center and other facilities. Upon his retirement in 1999, he became consultant of strategic planning at Elasis. Together with the Fiat Research Center, Lorenzo Morello contributed to the planning of some courses at the Faculty of Automotive Engineering of the Politecnico di Torino. He served as contract professor of Vehicle System Design and of Automotive Transmissions Design at both the Politecnico di Torino and the University of Naples. He coauthored The Automotive Body, published by Springer in 2011 (ISBN 978-94-007-0515-9). hnojojkopk

Inhalt
Economic figures.- Vehicle and parts manufacturers.- Impact on economy.- Product development and marketing.- Vehicle diffusion.- Regulations.- Type approval and production conformity.- Environmental protection.- Occupants and pedestrians safety.- Body.- Body in white.- Interiors.- Body systems.- Chassis.- Tire.- Suspension.- Steering system.- Braking system.- Powertrain mounts.- Transmission.- Powertrain.- ICE working cycles.- ICE design.- ICE ancillaries.- Manual gearboxes.- Automatic gearboxes.- Full electric powertrains.- Hybrid powertrains.- Production systems and materials and materials.- Steel mill.- Body presswork.- Body welding.- Body painting.- Iron and aluminum foundry.- Plastic materials.- Fuels and lubricants.- Body.- Separated body.- Unitized body.- Body systems.- Vehicle architecture.- Future developments.