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MEEN4003W

Academic Year 2024/2025

Automotive Vehicle Dynamics (MEEN4003W)

Subject:
Mechanical Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Mechanical & Materials Eng
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Anton van Beek
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

In this module we focus on the dynamics and control aspects related to road vehicles, with a primary emphasis on automobiles and trucks. Students will engage in the construction and analysis of dynamic models specific to these vehicles. The curriculum extends to the design of controllers tailored for applications in driver assistance and vehicle automation.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:
i. Define vehicle dynamics and its importance in automotive engineering through the principles of Newtonian mechanics as they apply to vehicles.
ii. Understand how vehicles respond to driver inputs such as steering, acceleration, and braking, through analysis of the effects of weight transfer on vehicle behaviour.
iii. Articulate vehicle stability, its importance in dynamics conditions, and analyse factors influencing it (e.g., load distribution and aerodynamics).
iv. Understand the principles of cornering and lateral dynamics and explain the impact of different factors on cornering performance.
v. Use mathematical models (e.g., tire models, vehicle dynamics equations) to analyse and predict vehicle behaviour.
vi. Apply simulation tools to study and optimize vehicle dynamics.

Indicative Module Content:

Key topics covered include longitudinal vehicle dynamics, cruise control, adaptive cruise control, ride dynamics, suspension design (both passive and active), nonholonomic dynamics of rolling, kinematic and dynamic bicycle models for automobile steering, lane-keeping control, motion planning for automated vehicles, and an exploration of longitudinal and lateral tire models affecting vehicle handling. Participants will gain comprehensive insights into the intricate dynamics and control systems that govern road vehicles in various operational scenarios.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

54

Lectures

36

Studio

27

Total

117


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is delivered through a combination of in class lectures, peer learning, and group projects.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Additional Information:
This module is delivered overseas and is not available to students based at the UCD Belfield or UCD Blackrock campuses


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Final Exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Graded Yes
50
Yes
Group Work Assignment: Group project - assessing the dynamics of a vehicle through simulation and engineering analysis. Week 10 Graded No
25
No
Group Work Assignment: Group presentation of fundamental concepts in vehicle dynamics. Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9 Graded No
25
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The students will be graded on three components, a group presentation, a group project, and a final exam. The feedback for the group presentation will be a combination of peer evaluation and professors. Feedback on the group project will be provided by the professor and the final exam will be provided to students individually after the exam.

i. T. Gillespie, Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics, SAE International, 2021
ii. G. Rill, Road Vehicle Dynamics: Fundamentals and Modeling, CRC Press, 2012
iii. K. Popp and W. Schiehlen, Ground Vehicle Dynamics, Springer, 2010
iv. R. Rajamani, Vehicle Dynamics and Control, 2nd edition, Springer, 2012

Name Role
Rong Huang Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Fei Wang Lecturer / Co-Lecturer