Homework 1 Fall 15

Due Time: Regular Session: Tue., Sept. 29; Online Session: Wed., Sept. 30

A FWD vehicle has the following data:

Front axle weight: 1750 lbs Rear axle weight: 1550 lbs
Center of gravity height: 17 inch Wheel base: 104 in.
Air drag coefficient: 0.32 Frontal projected area: 22.90 square feet
Tire radius: 11.70 in. Roll resistance coefficient: 0.018
Powertrain efficiency: 0.94 Traction coefficient: 1.0
Max. Power @6000RPM: 138 HP Max. Torque @4500RPM: 132 ft.lb.

The manual transmission used for the vehicle has six forward speeds and the gear ratios are: first gear
(3.72), 2nd gear (2.31), 3rd gear( 1.51), 4th gear (1.07), 5th gear (0.81), 6th gear (0.63). The engine WOT
output plot is given below:

140 150

130 125

Torque
120 100
Torque(ft.lb)

Power(HP)
110 Power 75

rr

100 50

90 25

80 0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
Speed (RPM)

a) The engine RPM drops 662 (RPM) when a 4-5 upshift is made at a vehicle speed of 45 mph.
Determine the final drive ratio of the vehicle.
b) Determine the engine torque and the engine power when the vehicle is cruising at a constant speed of
65 mph on level ground in the 6th and 5th gear respectively.
c) Determine the maximum acceleration the vehicle can achieve in the 4 th gear at a speed of 65 mph on a
2% slope.
d) What is the highest speed the vehicle can achieve in the 6 th gear on level ground?
e) Redesign the 6th gear ratio for the highest vehicle speed possible based on maximum engine power.
f) Redesign the gear ratio for the lowest gear for the maximum gradability using a reservation
factor 1.35 .