20 Vehicle Dynamics Interview Questions and Answers

Vehicle dynamics is the study of how a vehicle moves and behaves while in operation. It is a critical area of research for automotive engineers as it helps to improve the safety, performance and fuel efficiency of vehicles. If you are interviewing for a position in this field, you can expect to be asked questions about your knowledge and experience with vehicle dynamics. In this article, we review some common questions you may encounter during your interview.

Vehicle Dynamics Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Vehicle Dynamics interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is a vehicle’s center of gravity?

The center of gravity of a vehicle is the point at which the vehicle’s weight is evenly distributed. This point is important because it affects the vehicle’s handling and stability.

2. Can you explain what yaw, pitch and roll are in context with the dynamics of vehicles?

Yaw, pitch and roll are the three rotational degrees of freedom of a vehicle. Yaw is the rotation around the vertical axis, pitch is the rotation around the horizontal axis, and roll is the rotation around the longitudinal axis.

3. What do you understand by the term “rollover”?

A rollover is a type of vehicle accident that can occur when a vehicle tips onto its side or roof. Rollovers are particularly dangerous because they can cause the vehicle’s occupants to be ejected from the vehicle, which can lead to serious injuries or even death.

4. How can you define lateral acceleration?

Lateral acceleration is the force that acts upon a vehicle when it is turning. This force is perpendicular to the direction of travel and can cause the vehicle to slide or skid if it is not properly controlled.

5. What is traction control?

Traction control is a system that helps a vehicle to maintain traction with the road surface, especially when conditions are slippery. It does this by monitoring the speed of the wheels and, if necessary, reducing engine power or applying the brakes to individual wheels.

6. What does it mean for a vehicle to be understeering or oversteering?

Understeering is when a vehicle’s front wheels lose traction before the rear wheels. This can cause the vehicle to veer off course. Oversteering is when a vehicle’s rear wheels lose traction before the front wheels. This can cause the vehicle to spin out.

7. How can you calculate the coefficient of friction between two surfaces?

The coefficient of friction is a number that represents the amount of force required to move one object across another. The coefficient of friction is calculated by dividing the force required to move the object by the object’s weight.

8. What is slip angle?

Slip angle is the angle between a tire’s contact patch and the direction the car is actually traveling.

9. What’s the difference between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive cars?

The main difference between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive cars is how the engine’s power is sent to the wheels. In a front-wheel drive car, the engine’s power is sent to the front wheels, while in a rear-wheel drive car, the engine’s power is sent to the rear wheels. This can affect the car’s handling, as well as which wheels are more likely to slip on a slippery surface.

10. When would you use anti-lock brakes?

Anti-lock brakes are typically used in situations where you need to stop quickly, but also need to maintain control of the vehicle. For example, if you are driving on a slippery surface, or if you need to make a sudden stop to avoid an obstacle, you would use anti-lock brakes to help keep the vehicle from skidding or losing control.

11. What’s the difference between an F1 car vs. a rally car?

The main difference between an F1 car and a rally car is the surface they are driven on. F1 cars race on smooth, purpose-built tracks while rally cars compete on a variety of surfaces including gravel, snow, and tarmac. This means that rally cars need to be built to be more versatile and durable, while F1 cars can be built with a focus on speed and agility.

12. How would you stabilize a motorbike at high speeds on wet roads?

There are a few things that can be done to help stabilize a motorbike at high speeds on wet roads. First, make sure that the bike’s tires are properly inflated and have good tread. This will help the bike to grip the road better. Second, avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and instead make smooth, gradual movements. Finally, keep your weight centered on the bike and avoid leaning too far to one side.

13. Why do we need differential gears in automobiles?

Differential gears are used in automobiles in order to allow the wheels to rotate at different speeds. This is necessary because when a vehicle turns, the wheels on the inside of the turn need to rotate more slowly than the wheels on the outside of the turn. Without differential gears, the wheels would all rotate at the same speed, which would make turning the vehicle very difficult.

14. What is dynamic weight transfer? How does it affect handling characteristics when accelerating and braking?

Dynamic weight transfer is the shift in weight distribution that occurs when a vehicle starts or stops moving. When a vehicle is accelerating, the weight is shifted towards the rear, and when it is braking, the weight is shifted towards the front. This can affect the handling characteristics of the vehicle, making it more difficult to control when accelerating or braking.

15. What is the principle behind ESP (Electronic Stability Program)? When would you use it?

The principle behind ESP is that it uses sensors to monitor the direction and speed of a vehicle, and then intervenes when it detects that the vehicle is veering off course. It does this by automatically applying the brakes to individual wheels, which helps to bring the vehicle back under control. You would use ESP when driving in conditions where there is a risk of losing control of the vehicle, such as on a slippery road.

16. What is camber angle?

Camber angle is the angle between the vertical axis of a wheel and the plane of the road. A positive camber angle means that the top of the wheel is tilted outwards, away from the vehicle, while a negative camber angle means that the top of the wheel is tilted inwards, towards the vehicle.

17. What is caster angle?

Caster angle is the angle between the steering axis and the vertical plane. It is used to help determine the stability and steering characteristics of a vehicle.

18. What is toe angle?

Toe angle is the angle between the tires and the centerline of the vehicle. If the tires are pointing inwards, then the toe angle is said to be positive. If the tires are pointing outwards, then the toe angle is said to be negative. Toe angle plays an important role in vehicle dynamics, as it can affect the stability and handling of the vehicle.

19. What are some common causes of skidding?

Skidding can be caused by a number of things, but some of the most common causes are sudden braking, sharp turns, or driving on slippery surfaces.

20. What is the effect of vehicle height on aerodynamics?

The effect of vehicle height on aerodynamics is that it can cause the vehicle to be less stable at high speeds. This is because the taller the vehicle, the more likely it is to be affected by crosswinds.