Keith J. Wakeham: Introduction To Chassis Design

The book 'Introduction to Chassis Design' by Keith J. Wakeham is intended to give a better understanding of the fundamental requirements of a chassis along with information on how to start and optimize a design. It is intended for undergraduate and graduate engineering students who are interested in automotive vehicle engineering. While the book makes usage of FEA software, the principles of how things work and the recognition of problem areas will not need software. However it will need a good understanding of statics, dynamics, stress, strain, mechanics of solids, axial forces, shear forces, bending, torsion, angular and normal deflections, and mass moment of inertia.

The technical nature of the book makes it extremely detail oriented in every aspect. It covers a lot of areas including Impact protection, Suspension, Carbon Tubs, Monocoques, Spaceframe chassis, etc.

The book is available for download at Keith's website (keithwakeham.com). Click here to download it.

Contents:

1. Introduction
1. Theory
1. Understanding
1. Introduction
1. Key Points
2. Time Constraints
3. Suspension
1. Key Points
4. Protection
5. Aerodynamic influence
6. Tube Theory in practice
2. Suspension
1. Introduction to Suspension
2. Short Long Arm
3. Computer String Calculator
3. Impact protection
1. Introduction
2. Sancationed Rules
3. Impact Simulations
4. Formula One Testing
5. Lemans Testing
6. Recommended Tests
7. Static Tests
8. Formula One Testing
9. Lemans Testing
10. Recommended Tests
2. Design Reference
1. Project Description
1. Describe your project
2. Specifications
2. Ladder Frame
1. Introduction to Ladder Frame Design
2. Ladder Frame torsional ridgitity
3. X bracing
4. Evolution
3. Space Frame
1. Introduction to Space Frame Design
2. Audi Aluminum Space Frame
3. Skinned Space Frame
4. “Backbone”
1. Introduction to Backbone
2. Hybird Backbone Spaceframe
5. “Tub”
1. Introduction to “Tub” Design
6. Monocoque
1. Introduction to General Monocoque Design
2. Wall buckling
3. Angular Monocoque
4. Carbon Fiber Monocoque
1. Orthotropic Elasticity
3. Design Walkthrough
1. Design Process overview
1. Design Steps
2. Two Seat Sports car “Tub” Frame
1. “Tub” Introduction: K1
2. Ideas
3. Mark I
4. Mark II and Mark III
5. Mark IV and Mark V
6. Mark VI and Mark VII
7. Mark VIII
8. Mark IX
9. Mark X
10. Mark XI - Final
11. K1
12. Final Words
3. Lemans Style Angular Monocoque
1. Angular Monocoque Introduction: FM2
2. Project Description
3. Testing Setup
4. Mark I
5. Mark II
6. Mark III
7. Mark IV
8. Mark V
9. Mark VI - Final
10. Mark VI - Convergence
2. Afterword

Click here to download the book.