2023-2024 / MECA0063-1

Vehicle architecture and components

Duration

30h Th, 30h Pr, 30h Proj.

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Mechanical Engineering (EMSHIP+, Erasmus Mundus)5 crédits 
 Certificate in sustainable automotive engineering (non organisé en 2024-2025)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Emmanuel Tromme

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This lecture aims at introducing and discussing:

  • The general layout of a vehicle
  • Study of a selection of major components and subsystems of the vehicle
  • Discussion of the functionnal and of the manufacturing considerations 
  • Introduction to some modern design methodologies and tools used in automotive industry: optimization, concurrent engineering, integrated design...
 

The outline of the lecture is:

  • General architecture of the vehicle
  • The car body and the chassis
  • The suspension systems: types, design, suspension elements
  • The steering systems
  • The braking systems: architecture, composants, ABS
  • The transmission systems: gear boxes, clutches, differential, driveshafts...
  • Passive and active safety
  • Introduction to Advanced Driver Assiatnce Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving
  • Elements of vehicle aerodynamics
 

 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

  • Study of the general layout of a vehicle and the technology of the major subsystems and components.
  • Learn some of the design tools and methodologies for vehicle design
  • To be able to use modern CAE tools to investigate a problem from automotive engineering
  • To be able to analyze a complex vehicle design problem and to model it
  • To be able to present orally and clearly some results about a complex design problem.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.2, II.1, II.2, III.1, III.3, III.4, IV.1, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5, IV.9, IV.10, IV.11, V.2, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.3, VII.4, VII.5 of the MSc in mechanical engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic mechanics, Machine design, Machine vibrations, Finite Element method, Kinematics and Dynamics of Mechanisms.

Vehicle performance

Vehicle dynamics

 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

  • Lectures to introduce the main automotive components and systems
  • Seminars given by industrial experts from the automotive sector
  • Visits of automotive plants and/or automotive component suppliers
  • Group project about the overall design or a component of a vehicle prototype
 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Additional information:

The course is scheduled at second semester i.e. from February to May.

The lectures are given at University of Liege, on Thursday afternoon from 13:45 to 17:45

Industrial seminars and plant visits are planned with particular agenda. Some industrial seminars can be given on the site of the industry or in visio conference format.

 

 

Recommended or required readings

Copy of the slides (in English).

The course material is available on the website of the course www.ingveh.ulg.ac.be and/or on the Teams of the course (agreement with the students at the beginning of the course).

Reference books:





  • J. Happian-Smith (ed.) "An Introduction to Modern Vehicle Design". Butterworth Heinemann. 2002.
  • W. Milliken & D. Milliken. « Race Car Vehicle Dynamics », 1995, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • R. Bosch. « Automotive Handbook». 5th edition. 2002. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • J. Reimpell, H. Stoll, J. Betzler. «The automotive chassis: engineering principles ». 2nd edition. 2001, SAE.
  • H. Heisler. « Vehicle and Engine Technology ». 2nd edition. SAE, 1999.
 

 

 

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Additional information:

  • The group design project will be evaluated on the basis of the report and on the quality of the oral presentation
  • Oral exam on the theoretical lectures (open-book exam).
  • Passing both the project and the oral exam is mandatory to get the credits. In case a student fails in one of the two parts (mark <= 7), the final mark is the lowest one.
  • Participation to 2/3 of the seminars is mandatory to present the exam.
 

 

 

 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

None

Contacts

Emmanuel TROMME

Bât. B52/3 Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique
Quartier Polytech 1
allée de la Découverte 9
4000 Liège

Email: e.tromme@uliege.be


 

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online

Course web site
Course web site