Here's What You Should Know About Becoming a Vehicle Dynamics Engineer

Intertwined with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the automotive industry is another intriguing field of study known as vehicle dynamics.  

People around the world always long for a faster yet safer mode of transportation. But it becomes challenging to balance the two as the speed increases, the aerodynamic forces that act on the body also increase. In real-world conditions, these forces can become unstable and lead to dangerous road accidents.

This is where vehicle dynamics comes in. Primarily, vehicle dynamics engineers play a vital role in ensuring the safety standards of the automobile. 

So, if you are wondering how to become a vehicle dynamics engineer, then this article will surely help you in your decision to choose this promising career path. 

 

 

What is Vehicle Dynamics? 

Vehicle dynamics is a field of study, in the automobile industry, in which the vehicle dynamics engineer is tasked with studying how the vehicle performs and reacts dynamically through the input of the driver.  

The forgiving aspect of vehicle dynamics is that it deals mostly with classical mechanics. Hence, the calculations are often easier compared to that of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and the computation time is also shorter.  

In simpler terms, a vehicle dynamics engineer studies how a vehicle behaves when it is in motion. 

The career path of a vehicle dynamics engineer could suit you well if you have a passion for the automotive industry, along with a knack for classical mechanics, Newtonian physics, and mathematics.  

 

Roles of a Vehicle Dynamics Engineer 

The roles and responsibilities of a vehicle dynamics engineer are incredibly vast, which makes them indispensable in the automotive sector. Here are some of them: 

• Creation and execution of numerous tests and test methodologies for accurate results
• Communicate and coordinate with people from multiple divisions such as design engineers, CFD engineers, and FEA engineers to comply with all the requirements and provide inputs for improvement
• Ensure driver and passenger safety through computer simulations
• Provide inputs and suggestions for design and performance improvements

So, how do you prepare to get onto the path of a professional vehicle dynamics engineer? Well, the experts at Skill-Lync have mapped out the process for you. There are two stages for you to cross if you are an absolute beginner and want to get ahead of the competition as a vehicle dynamics engineer. 

 

Stage 1 

 

Multi-Body Dynamics 

Are you among the select few who are inclined towards kinematics of machinery (KoM) and vibrations? If yes, multi-body dynamics could be the right fit for you.  

There are two ways for you to structure your career in multi-body dynamics: 

1. Robotics
2. Vehicle dynamics like suspension design and steering kinematics

Multi-body dynamics essentially refers to the study of dynamics of a system in which multiple bodies are connected to each other and how they interact when a force is applied at one end. 

 

Vehicle Dynamics Using MATLAB Simulink 

This course looks into suspension design, tire modelling, vehicle ride, vehicle handling, and modelling all of them using MATLAB Simulink.  

MATLAB involves a plethora of mathematical coding and requires you to understand all the equations involved in vehicle dynamics to develop your own solvers. 

 

Suspension Design Using MSC Adams 

If you aren't very keen on core mathematics and complex programming, consider taking up suspension design using MSC Adams. MSC Adams is the most widely used software tool in the automotive industry for multi-body simulation and motion analysis. 

 

Motorsport Racing and Vehicle Dynamics 

A fascinating and largely theoretical course that is bound to pique your interest and understanding of vehicle dynamics engineering is 'Motorsport Racing and Vehicle Dynamics.' 

 

Stage 2 

If you are comfortable with all the stage 1 requirements, then you can unflinchingly get started with the second stage. However, a quick recap of all the previous learnings will help you a lot before you dive in. 

 

 

Robotics 

If you are more inclined towards robotics, then you can take a look into multi-body dynamics using motion view and motion solve for both automotive as well as robotics applications. 

 

MSC Adams 

You can even check out a model building in Adams View using MSC Adams. In this, you will be taught to build models that replicate real-life components from scratch.  

Then, you have Adams Car, which is essentially a template-based approach. In this, you will have preloaded templates for most of the pre-existing models, and you can run your own simulations and view the results.  

But if you want to work with Adams Car in a more advanced way, then the right area for you to look into is template building. Here, you build various templates for chassis, transmissions, suspensions, and more, which can later be used by yourself or other people who would like to deal with the fundamentals. 

 

Vehicle Dynamics Courses by Skill-Lync 

As a vehicle dynamics engineer, you must be confident enough to work the necessary tools as well as understand the theoretical concepts behind them. To this end, Skill-Lync has some useful courses that will help students get a better understanding of vehicle dynamics.

Check out some of the courses we offer: 

• Vehicle Dynamics using MATLAB – 3 months
• Suspension Design using ADAMS – 3 months
• Introduction to Motorsport Engineering – 2 months
• Multibody Dynamics for Automotive Applications – 3 months
• Multibody Dynamics using SolidWorks – 1 month

Conclusion

Now that you know how to become a vehicle dynamics engineer, do you think you have what it takes? If you would like to study vehicle dynamics in more detail, sign up for one of Skill-Lync's industry-relevant courses on the subject. 

 

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