I was recently researching electric power steering when I came across the most incredible book I’ve ever seen: the Encyclopedia of Automotive Engineering. It’s 4,000 pages about the science of automotive design and engineering. I really want a copy, but I’d have to sell one of my cars to afford it.
Written by David Crolla, David Foster, Tashio Kobayashi and Nicholas Vaughan last year, the six-volume encyclopedia covers topics that make my inner automobile engineer feel very warm and fuzzy. The Amazon description says the book covers nine main topics:
(1) Engines: Fundamentals (2) Engines: Design (3) Hybrid and Electric Powertrains (4) Transmission and Driveline (5) Chassis Systems (6) Electrical and Electronic Systems (7) Body Design (8) Materials and Manufacturing (9) Telematics.
And taking a glance at the free preview below, it’s obvious that the book isn’t just covering the basics, even if the description likes to use the word “fundamentals”; this giant fountain of automotive knowledge goes deep into the history of certain auto technologies, and describes the principles that guide how they work.
Yes, if you don’t have an engineering degree, some of this is going to be tough to understand:
Here’s the enormous mouthwatering table of contents from an Ebay seller’s page (on which this encyclopedia is listed for over $2,500—clearly a price designed for academic institutions and automotive corporations):
Table of Contents
Editorial Board
Dedication
Foreword
Preface
Part 1
Operating Principles
Thermordynamic Analysis
Fundamental Chemical Kinetics
Fundamental Combustion Modes
Solving Combustion Chemistry in Engine Simulations
NOx Formation and Models
UHC and CO Formation and Models
Particulate Formation and Models
Gas Exchange - Breathing and Air Management
Fuel Introduction
In-Cylinder Flow
Spark Ignition Combustion
Diesel and Diesel LTC Combustion
Advanced Compression-Ignition Combustion for Ultra-Low NOx and Soot
Pressure and Heat Release Analysis
Zero- and One-Dimensional Methodologies and Tools
Multidimensional Simulation
Fuels for Engines and the Impact of Fuel Composition on Engine Performance
Intake Boosting
Exhaust Gas Energy Recovery
Engine Thermal Management
Lubrication and Friction
Gas Aftertreatment Systems
Solid/Condensed Phase Aftertreatment Systems
Engine Performance
Exhaust Emissions
Fundamentals
Trends – Spark Ignition
Trends – Compression Ignition
Part 2
Automotive Diesel Engine Development Trends
Critical layout dimensions
Cranktrain Development
Cooling Systems
Lubrication systems
Piston and ring development
Valvetrain development
Material and Process Selection – Cylinder Blocks and Heads
Block and Head Analysis
Gaskets and Sealing
NVH Considerations in Engine Development
Turbocharging
Supercharging
Diesel Fuel Injection Systems
Emission Control Systems - Oxides of nitrogen
Stoichiometric Exhaust Emission Control
Exhaust Emission Control Considerations for Diesel Engines
Engine Management Systems
Engine/Transmission Matching
Drive Cycles
Fuel economy optimization
Part 3
Overview of Electric, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles
EV powertrain configuration
EV powertrain parameters
EV auxilaries
Basic consideration
Micro, mild and full hybrid
Series Hybrid Electric Vehicles (SHEVs)
Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicles (Parallel HEVs)
Series-Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Range extender EV
All-Wheel Drive Hybrid System
EVT and E-CVT for Full Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Power and Energy requirements for electric and hybrid vehicles
Rechargeable Battery Basics
Advanced batteries for vehicle applications
Batteries indication and management
Battery safety for lithium batteries in vehicle applications
Fuel Cell Powered Vehicles
Ultracapacitors in electric drive vehicles
General requirement of traction motor drives
DC motor drives
Induction motor drives
Future direction of traction motor drives
Regenerative braking systems
Energy management systems of EVs
Energy management systems of HEVs
Battery charging standards
Communication of Electric Vehicles
Voltage Control and Frequency Control
Impact of electric vehicles on low-voltage supply systems
Part 4
General Introduction - basic definitions, structure of Part 4
Transmission Gear Design
Loads & Bearings and Bearing Failure
Mechanics of contacting surfaces
Tribological optimisation in the powertrain
Synchronisers - gear change process, loads, timing, shift effort, thermal loads, materials and tolerances
Dry Clutch
Clutch Wet
Automotive Torque Converters
Manual (MT) - layouts, design considerations, packaging & manual shift mechanism, manufacturing & assembly
Automatic Transmissions - geartrain combinations, components, design considerations, hydraulic system, packaging, manuf., assembly
The variable pulley CVT
Traction drive CVT
Power Split Configurations
Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF)
Propshafts (Driveshafts)
Coupling connections and splines
Articulated Joints and Couplings – Cardan and CV Joints
Axle Systems
Basic Open Differentials
Passive and Active Limited Slip Differentials
Torque Transfer with AWD Systems
Drive train noise, vibration and harshness
Clutch Actuation
Launch Control
Control systems and strategies for automated manual and double clutch transmissions
AT Control – actuation methods & system integration, gear choice, gear shift strategy & process, adaptive features
CVT Control - system integration, ratio choice, shift dynamics & strategy, adaptive features, engine calibration, em assist
Part 5
Possibilities of coil springs and fibre reinforced suspension parts
Air suspension systems, what advanced applications may be possible?
The harshness of air springs in passenger cars
Air supply for advanced applications
Technology of active shock absorbers and benefits in regards of ride and handling
Suspension arms, steel versus aluminium,where are the benefits?
Performance Target Conflicts in Normal Tires and Ultra High Performance (UHP) Tires
Tyre pressure monitoring systems
Brake systems, an overview
Carbon fibre reinforced siliconcarbide: a new brake disk material
The development of alternative brake systems
The Cooperation of Regenerative Braking and Friction Braking in Fuel Cell-, Hybrid- and Electric Vehicles
Designing twist beam axles
ULSAS – Suspensions, a comparison of rear suspension design
Light weight front suspensions, a comparison
Active front steering for passenger cars
New Electrical Power Steering Systems
Steer by Wire, Potential and Challenges
The potential for handling improvements by global chassis control
Customer oriented Evaluation of Vehicle Handling Characteristics
Automated Driving
Global Chassis Control in Passenger Cars
Chassis Control Systems - A Look into the Future
Torque vectoring by drive train systems
Chassis modeling and optimization by the advanced method ABE
System Simulation in DSHPLUS, What applications are possible?
Comparison of the modeling techniques for chassis applications. An advice for the user
Part 6
Historical Overview of Electronics and Automobiles: Breakthroughs and Innovation by Electronics and Electrical Technology
ECU technologies from components to ECU configuration
Diversification of electronics and electrical systems and the technologies for the integrated systems
Microcomputers and Related Technologies: Enlargement of Software Size, Algorithms, Architectures, Hierarchy Design, Functional Decomposition, and Standardization
Increase of ECU and Wire harness, JB simplify and decrease networks
ECU Design and Reliability
Manufacturing: An Introduction to Production Technology, SCM, and Quality Assurance
In-Vehicle Network
Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation
The Wire Harness
Batteries
Generators and Charging Control
Starter
Applications of radio wave technologies to vehicles
Applications of image recognition technologies to vehicles
Vehicle safety, Functional safety, OBD diagnosis
Interfaces between Sensors and ECUs
Various types of sensors
Ceramics sensors for power train ECU systems
Semiconductor Sensor (1)—Sensors for Power Trains
Semiconductor Sensors (2): Sensors for Safety Systems
Semiconductor Sensors (3): Optical Sensors
Various Kinds of Actuators and Signal Interfaces
Engine ECU systems
Hybrid Systems and High Voltage Components
Chassis ECU (Vehicle dynamics, ABS)
Chassis ECU (Steering)
Chassis ECU (ACC)
Body ECU Cluster
Body ECU (airbag)
Body and Lighting ECU (Key-less Entry, Sonar, HID, LED Usage for Lamps)
Car air conditioning and electronics: analog, digital control and zone management
Car navigation
Telecommunications
Active safety, pre-collision safety and other safety products (millimeter wave, image recognition, laser)
Part 7
Body design, overview, targeting a good balance between all vehicle functionalities
Innovative structural design
The Fascination of Car Body Manufacture: Requirements for car body manufacture from viewpoint of production
Styling of cars, from sketch to realisation, main trends and milestones
Fundamentals, basic principals in road vehicle aerodynamics & design
Exterior vehicle noise development: assessment and control
Vehicle vibration and harshness
Vehicle architecture for meeting anthropometric, posture, comfort, health requirements of passengers
Human Machine Interface design in modern vehicles
Vehicle seat design, development and manufacturing
Physics of car crashes: design concepts for safer cars
Reparability and insurance ratings in the development of cars
Adaptive Restraint Systems: Towards Integral Safety
Pedestrian protection, overview
Part 8
Processing of Steels
Wrought Aluminum Alloys: Grades and Properties and Processing
Automotive Applications for Magnesium
Automotive Applications for Titanium
Processing of Polymers
Application of Elastomeric Components for Noise and Vibration Isolation in the Automotive Industry
Trim
Hybrid Structures
Metal Matrix Composites: Automotive Applications
Automotive Glazing
Recycling of Polymers & Composites
Biopolymers & Biocomposites
Automotive Environmental Life Cycle Assessment
Part 9
Intelligent Transport Systems: Overview and Structure (history, applications, architectures)
Intelligent Transport Systems: Market and Policies
Evolution and Future Trends
Technologies - Communication: Mobile
Technologies - Communication: Wireless LAN-based Vehicular Communication
Technologies - Positioning: GNSS
Tracking and navigation for goods and people
In-vehicle sensors
Data Acquisition by Roadside Detection
Technologies - Data Acquisition: Data fusion
Applications - Intelligent Vehicles: Driver Information
Driver Assistance
Applications - Intelligent Roads and Cooperative Systems: Urban Traffic Management
Advanced Highway Management Systems
Road Traffic and Travel Information (RTTI)
Logistics and Fleet Management
Tolling, Mobility Pricing
Applications - Further Applications: Emergency Services, eCall
Quality Management in ITS
IT-Security for Communicating Automotive Systems
Driver Distraction
Man that’s some nerdy, but extremely awesome stuff.
Edit: Oct 27, 2016: changed preview link to Google Books.