A fundamental understanding of vehicle ride and handling behaviour and the practical implications for chassis and suspension design.

This course provides a fundamental understanding of vehicle ride and handling behaviour and links this understanding to the practical implications for chassis and suspension design.

At a glance

  • Dates
    • Please enquire for course dates
  • DurationThree days
  • LocationCranfield campus
  • Cost

    £1,600. The course fee includes refreshments and lunch during the day. Accommodation is not included and must be booked separately.


    Concessions available

Course structure

This three-day course will consist of a mix of lectures from both academic and industrial specialists in vehicle dynamics and suspension technology, ride and drive activities on a test track and a hands-on session of the use of modelling and simulation tools for case studies. All delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course.

What you will learn

  • Vehicle ride – an understanding of modelling, analysis and practical issues.
  • Vehicle handling – an understanding of modelling, analysis and practical issues.
  • Tyres – force and moment properties and tyre modelling approaches.
  • Suspension kinematics and compliances – theoretical background and practical measuring schemes.
  • Suspension design – an overview of suspension design properties and review of current design philosophy.
  • Case studies – introduction to modelling and simulation software and discussion of practical case studies.

Core content

Vehicle Ride

  • Quarter / half / full car model
  • Suspension design optimisation
  • Design guidelines / conflicts
  • Ride measurements
  • Human response to vibration, ISO standards
  • Springs, non linear effects, bump stops
  • Damper properties, non linear properties

Vehicle Handling

  • Development of 2 dof model
  • Understeer / oversteer
  • Steady state cornering, stability, frequency response
  • Transient, limiting manoeuvres
  • Straight running stability, aerodynamics effects, neutral steer point
  • Effect of vehicle / suspension design properties
  • C.g. position, tyre size, load transfer, camber, compliances
  • Effects of braking, traction

Tyres

  • Mechanism of force generation
  • Study of typical force / moment data
  • Review of tyre models

Suspension Kinematics and Compliances

  • Role of the suspension
  • Kinematics, wheel motion control
  • Forces transmitted
  • Roll centres, anti-dive and anti-squat properties
  • MIRA K&C rig; Review of other rigs

Suspension Design

  • Review of typical designs
  • Current design trends
  • Practical implications

Who should attend

The course is intended for those practising engineers and technologists who already have a general understanding of vehicle dynamics and who now wish to develop their knowledge, in particular to the design and development of suspensions, tyres and chassis systems.

Speakers




Concessions

20% discount for Cranfield alumni.

10% discount when registering 3 or more delegates from the same organisation at the same time.

 



Accommodation options and prices

This is a non-residential course. If you would like to book accommodation on campus, please contact Mitchell Hall or Cranfield Management Development Centre directly. Further information regarding our accommodation on campus can be found here.

Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel.

 

 

Location and travel

Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The University is located almost midway between the towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes and is conveniently situated between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are 30, 90 and 90 minutes respectively by car, offering superb connections to and from just about anywhere in the world. 

For further location and travel details

Location address

Cranfield University
College Road
Cranfield
Bedford 
MK43 0AL

How to apply

To apply for this course please use the online application form.

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.