Vehicle Body Engineering and Safety

UNIT -4
Load Distribution and Vehicle Stability
The automotive chassis provides the strength necessary to support the vehicular components
and the payload placed upon it. The suspension system contains the springs, the shock
absorbers, and other components that allow the vehicle to pass over uneven terrain without an
excessive amount of shock reaching the passengers or the cargo. The steering mechanism is an
integral portion of the chassis, as it provides the operator with a means of controlling the
direction of travel. The tyres grip the road surface to provide good traction that enables the
vehicle to accelerate, brake, and make turns without skidding. Working in conjunction with
the suspension, the tyres absorb most of the shocks caused by road irregularities. The body of
the vehicle encloses the mechanical components and passenger compartment. It is made of
relatively light sheet metal or composite plastics. The components which make up the chassis
are held together in proper relation to each other by the frame.
Frames
The separate frame and body type of vehicle construction (image 1 and 2) is the most common
technique used when producing most full-size and cargo vehicles. In this type of construction,
the frame and the vehicle body are made seperately, and each is a complete unit by itself. The
frame is designed to support the weight of the body and absorb all of the loads imposed by the
terrain, suspension system, engine, drive train, and steering system, ad the body merely
contains and, in some cases, protects the cargo. The body generally is bolted to the frame at a
few points to allow for flexure of the frame and to distribute the loads to the intended load-
carrying members. The components of this type of frame are as follows:
The SIDE MEMBERS or rails are the heaviest part of the frame. The side members are shaped
to accomodate the body and support the weight. They are narrow toward the front of the
vehicle to permit a shorter turning radius for the wheels and then widen under the main part of
the body where the body is secured to the frame. Trucks and trailers commonly have frames
with straight side members to accomodate several designs of bodies and to give the vehicle
added strength to withstand heavier loads.
The CROSS MEMBERS are fixed to the side members to prevent weaving and twisting of the

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 Vehicle Body Engineering and Safety

frame. The number, size and arrangement of the cross members depend on the type of vehicle
for which the frame was designed. Usually, a front cross member supports the radiator and the
front of the engine. The rear cross members furnish support for the fuel tanks and rear trunk
on passenger cars and the tow bar connections for trucks. Additional cross members are added
to the frame to support the rear of the engine or power train components.
The GUSSET PLATES are angular pieces of metal used for additional reinforcement on
heavy-duty truck frames. With this type of frame construction, the body structure only needs
to be strong and rigid enough to contain the weight of the cargo and resist any dynamic
loads associated with cargo handling and cargo movement during vehicle operation and to
absorb shocks and vibrations transferred from the frame. In some cases, particularly under
severe operating conditions, the body structure may be subjected to some torsional loads
that are not absorbed completely by the frame. This basically applies to heavy trucks and
not passenger vehicles. In a typical passenger vehicle, the frame supplies approximately 37
percent of the tensional rigidity and approximately 34 percent of the bending rigidity; the
balance is supplied by the body structure. The most important advantages of the separate
body and frame construction are as follows:
Ease of mounting and dismounting the body structure.
Versatility; various body types can be adapted to a standard truck chassis.
Strong, rugged designs are achieved easily; however, vehicle weight is increased.
Isolation of noise generated by the drive train components from the passenger
compartment through the use of rubber mounts between the frame and the body.
Simplistic design that yields a relatively inexpensive and easy manufacturing process.

Frame members serve as supports to which springs, independent suspensions, radiators, or

. Idealized Structure
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 Vehicle Body Engineering and Safety

•Structural Surface

•Shear Panel Method

•Symmetric and Anti-symmetric vertical loads in car

•Longitudinal Loads

•Different Loading Situations

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