Automotive Engineering Final Exam
Ride - correct answer tactile & visual perception of vibration
Handling - correct answer responsiveness of vehicle to driver input, or ease of control
Cornering - correct answer often equated with "handling", though in lateral control sense.
Directional response - correct answer how the vehicle responds to specific steering inputs.
Understeer - correct answer When rear axle grip is greater than front. Also known as plow out. Increase
steering angle as speed (lateral acceleration) increases
Oversteer - correct answer When front axle grip is greater than rear. Also known as spin out. Decrease steer
angle as speed increases.
Neutral steer - correct answer When the front and rear axle grip are equal. There is no change of steer angle as
as speed increases.
Offtracking - correct answer Rear wheels track inside front wheels. Much more pronounced in longer vehicles,
esp. articulated vehicles.
Camber steer - correct answer occurs because curved tire elements are forced to travel a straight line when
contacting the pavement
, Roll Steer - correct answer occurs due to suspension kinematics. Body roll can pull on steering tire rod,
increasing or decreasing steer angle.
Lateral force compliance steer - correct answer Bushings between vehicle body and suspension parts (e.g.
control arms) are often soft in order to reduce NVH. But compliance allowed by soft bushings can contribute a
steering effect.
Ackerman Steering vs. Ackerman angle - correct answer Ackerman steering = Steering linkage geometry
designed such that the inner and outer steering wheels both act at angles appropriate to the turn radius
Ackerman Angle = For vehicles in low speed cornering situations, the average roadwheel steer angle can be
geometrically related to the turn radius. 𝛿 = 𝐿/R
Functions of Suspension - correct answer a. Provide vertical compliance
b. Maintain wheels in proper steer and camber attitudes
c. React to control forces produced by tires - longitudinal, lateral forces and torques
d. Resist roll of chassis (annoying)
e. Keep tires in contact with road
Design considerations for suspension - correct answer a. How well it does functions above
b. Cost, weight, package space, manufacturability, ease of assembly.
What is a solid axle - correct answer Wheels are mounted at either of a rigid beam. Any movement of one
wheels is directly transmitted to the opposite wheel - steer and camber together
Advantages of Solid Axle - correct answer Simple, Can be extremely strong, Camber control - no camber caused
by body roll
Disadvantages to solid axle - correct answer wheels tied together tend to shimmy, poor ride quality, beam axle
makes proper steer geometry difficult, can't put anything between wheels so it must go up (raising CG).
Ride - correct answer tactile & visual perception of vibration
Handling - correct answer responsiveness of vehicle to driver input, or ease of control
Cornering - correct answer often equated with "handling", though in lateral control sense.
Directional response - correct answer how the vehicle responds to specific steering inputs.
Understeer - correct answer When rear axle grip is greater than front. Also known as plow out. Increase
steering angle as speed (lateral acceleration) increases
Oversteer - correct answer When front axle grip is greater than rear. Also known as spin out. Decrease steer
angle as speed increases.
Neutral steer - correct answer When the front and rear axle grip are equal. There is no change of steer angle as
as speed increases.
Offtracking - correct answer Rear wheels track inside front wheels. Much more pronounced in longer vehicles,
esp. articulated vehicles.
Camber steer - correct answer occurs because curved tire elements are forced to travel a straight line when
contacting the pavement
, Roll Steer - correct answer occurs due to suspension kinematics. Body roll can pull on steering tire rod,
increasing or decreasing steer angle.
Lateral force compliance steer - correct answer Bushings between vehicle body and suspension parts (e.g.
control arms) are often soft in order to reduce NVH. But compliance allowed by soft bushings can contribute a
steering effect.
Ackerman Steering vs. Ackerman angle - correct answer Ackerman steering = Steering linkage geometry
designed such that the inner and outer steering wheels both act at angles appropriate to the turn radius
Ackerman Angle = For vehicles in low speed cornering situations, the average roadwheel steer angle can be
geometrically related to the turn radius. 𝛿 = 𝐿/R
Functions of Suspension - correct answer a. Provide vertical compliance
b. Maintain wheels in proper steer and camber attitudes
c. React to control forces produced by tires - longitudinal, lateral forces and torques
d. Resist roll of chassis (annoying)
e. Keep tires in contact with road
Design considerations for suspension - correct answer a. How well it does functions above
b. Cost, weight, package space, manufacturability, ease of assembly.
What is a solid axle - correct answer Wheels are mounted at either of a rigid beam. Any movement of one
wheels is directly transmitted to the opposite wheel - steer and camber together
Advantages of Solid Axle - correct answer Simple, Can be extremely strong, Camber control - no camber caused
by body roll
Disadvantages to solid axle - correct answer wheels tied together tend to shimmy, poor ride quality, beam axle
makes proper steer geometry difficult, can't put anything between wheels so it must go up (raising CG).
