MECH4420 Vehicle Dynamics (Fall 2025)

MECH4420: Vehicle Dynamics
Auburn University
Fall Semester 2025

Lecture Information: Lowder 155, MW (and some F) 3:00-4:15.

Instructor

Professor David M. Bevly, Wiggins 2418F
Office hours: Mon/Wed 2-3, 4:30-5

Course Description and Syllabus

Course Outline/Syllabus (PDF)

This is a 3 credit hour undergraduate technical elective. Introduction to the basic mechanics governing vehicle performance, analytical methods, and terminology.

Assignments

Introduction Assignment (Due Fri 8/22/2025) (PDF)
Homework #1 (PDF)
Homework #2 (PDF)
Homework #3 (PDF)
Lab Manual for Logging Data (PDF)
Homework #4 (PDF)
Instructions on how to plot GPS data in Google Earth (PDF)
Homework #5 (PDF)
Vehicle Information for HW#5: Page 1 (PDF) and Page 2 (PDF)
Homework #6 (PDF)
Results for Problem 3 at 10 m/s and Prob 3 Solution (PDF)
Homework #7 (PDF)
Click here or here for a link on how to plot phase plane portraits in Matlab.
Homework #8 (PDF)
Intermediate HW (due Monday 2/26/18) (PDF)
Homework #9 (PDF)
Excel Spreadsheet for Homework #9

Additional Handouts

Numerical Techniques for Integration and Differentiation (PDF)
Preliminary Information for Lab Day and Final Project (PDF)
Sample Tire Parameters (PDF)
Definition of ISO 3888 Double Lane Change (PDF)
Directions to NCAT Test Track (PDF) and Garage (PDF)
SAE Paper with Vehicle Parameters (PDF)
NHTSA Rollover Report (PDF)
Crossbow IMU 400 Datasheet (PDF)
Septentrio PolaRxe@ Receiver Datasheet (PDF)
Daily, R., Bevly, D. M., "The Use of GPS for Vehicle Stability Control Systems," IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Vol. 51, No. 2, April 2004, pp. 270-277. (pdf)

Data

Data for HW #1 (data)
Data for HW #2 (Data File #1) and (Data File #2)
Data for HW #3: (Problem #2 Data) , (Vehicle #1 CoastDown Data) , (MKZ CoastDown Data) , and Sample Lab Data:(MKZ) and (KIA)
Data for HW #7 (G35 Data File #1) and (G35 Data File #2)
HW #8 Chicane Profile (data)
GPS Data of the NCAT Test Track (Data File)
ZIP File of good DLC Runs (ZIP)
Auburn's MKZ Dyno Test Plots and Data performed by APR
Auburn's Kia Dyno Test Plots and Data performed by APR
Auburn's G35 Dyno Test performed by APR (Dyno test from g35driver.com forum here )

Contant Radius Lab Data: Kia1, Kia2, Kia3, Kia4, MKZ1, MKZ2, MKZ3, MKZ4
Double Lane Change Lab Data: Kia1, Kia2, Kia3, Kia4, MKZ1, MKZ2, MKZ3, MKZ4

Additional Lectures

Springs and Stabilizer Bars: (Lecture) and (Handouts)
Ride and Pitch: (Lecture) and (Handouts)
Roll Centers, and Steering: (Lecture) and (Handouts)

Software

Direction on parsing bag file in Matlab (pdf) and Sample M-file

Sample M-file to process datafile
Compressed folder of GPS_Functions to translate GPS positions from ECEF to LLA and ENU
Simple M-file to read Septentrio Data
MKZ Simulation Code: Matlab Function and File Description

Links

Some Helpful Matlab Resources
AutoZine Technical School
Nascar
Tirerack.com
How to Read Tire Sizes
Sample Tire Spring Rate Data
Road and Track (Library Location -> TL1.R56)
Car and Driver (Library Location -> TL236.S664)
Coast Down Calculator
2003 G35 Specs
2007 G35 Specs
2012 Kia Optima Specs