Automotive Chassis

Module 2: FRAMES
Layout of an Automobile
Types of frame
 1. Conventional frame:
It has two long side members and 5 to 6 cross
members joined together with the help of rivets and
bolts. The frame sections generally used are.

a. Channel Section - Good resistance to bending

b. Tubular Section - Good resistance to Torsion
c. Box Section - Good resistance to both bending
and Torsion
Conventional Frame
 2. Semi - Integral Frame:
• In some vehicles half frame is fixed in the
front end on which engine gear box and front
suspension is mounted.
• It has the advantage when the vehicle is met
with accident the front frame can be removed
easily to replace the damaged chassis frame.
• This type of frame is used in FIAT cars and
some of the European and American cars.
 3. Integral Frame:

• This frame is used now a days in most of the cars.

There is no frame and all the assembly units are
attached to the body.
• All the functions of the frame is carried out by the
body itself.
• Due to elimination of long frame it is cheaper and
due to less weight most economical also.
• Only disadvantage is that the repairing is difficult.
 FUNCTIONS OF THE CHASSIS FRAME:
1. To carry load of the passengers or goods carried in
the body.
2. To support the load of the body, engine, gear box
etc.,
3. To withstand the forces caused due to the sudden
braking or acceleration
4. To withstand the stresses caused due to the bad
road condition.
5. To withstand centrifugal force while cornering
 Loads on the frame
• Weight of the vehicle and passengers- Vertical
bending
• Uneven roads like bumps or hollows- Longitudinal
torsion
• Road camber, side wind, cornering force while
taking a turn- Lateral bending of side members
• Obstructions on one wheel leading to torsion
• Acceleration and braking force- Side member
bending
• Accidents- Collapse of one or more members
 VARIOUS LOADS ACTING ON THE FRAME:

Various loads acting on the frame are,

1. Short duration Load - While crossing a broken patch.
2. Momentary duration Load - While taking a curve.
3. Impact Loads - Due to the collision of the vehicle.
4. Inertia Load - While applying brakes/ accelerating.
5. Static Loads - Loads due to chassis parts.
6. Over Loads - Beyond Design capacity.
FRAME CONSTRUCTION >>
Frame Sections
X-type frame
Materials for the frame
SIDE MEMBER STEEL SPECIFICATIONS & MATERIAL USED
 SUB FRAMES

3. Any alterations in the unit systems can easily be performed by making changes in the
sub-frame instead of the main frame.
 Defects in Frames

and wringing irons. If the damage is more, the bent frame member may be heated to
straighten it. Another alternative may be to cut the damaged part and weld a new
one instead.
 Defects - classification
• The prominent defects that may usually occur
in the frames due to accident or rollover fall
into one of the five basic categories
• 1) Sideway – where the chassis frame is bent
or bowed horizontally in one direction or the
other.
• 2) Diamonding – where one frame rail has
moved ahead of the other and with the two
remaining still parallel.
 (contd.)

• 3) Twist – where the vehicle’s front end rolls to

one side, while the rear rolls to the opposite
side. If a frame is twisted, one corner of the
frame will be higher than the opposite side.
• 4) Sag – where the frame is bent down the
middle like an old swayback horse
• 5) Bowed – where a frame rail or side rail is
bent up from where it should be.
 Frameless Construction (Unibody or
Integral Body Construction)
• The Unibody was a design concept developed for
the bodies of aircraft and the egg shell is often cited
as the best example of this type of structure.

• Even if you press hard on an egg shell, it is

comparatively difficult to destroy since all the force
applied by the fingers is not concentrated in one
place but is dispersed effectively through the entire
shell. In mechanics, this action is called Stressed
Hull Structure.
FRAMELESS CONSTRUCTION (UNIBODY OR
INTEGRAL BODY CONSTRUCTION
 Vehicle Dimensions
(i) Wheel track - The transverse distance between the tyres in
the front and the rear
(ii) Wheel base - The longitudinal distance between the centre
lines of the front and the rear axles.
(iii) Overall length - The total length of the vehicle excluding the
spare wheel (if mounted as an extra projection)
(iv) Overall width – The total width of the vehicle excluding the
accessories and rear view mirrors
(v) Overall height – Total height of the vehicle excluding the roof
fittings
(vi) Ground clearance- The distance between the lowest point of
the vehicle to the ground.
(vii) Overhang – The length of the vehicle which is in front of
front wheels and behind the rear wheels
 Vehicle Weights
•Kerb Weight -Weight of the vehicle without load with the toll
kit, spare wheel and its accessories and 80% fuel filled in tank
•Gross vehicle Weight (GVW) - Maximum permissible weight of
the vehicle with the load specified
•Front axle weight (FAW) – The total weight acting at the front
axle in GVW condition
•Rear Axle Weight (RAW) – The total weight acting at the rear
axle in GVW condition
•Sprung weight – The weight of the vehicle parts which is
mounted above the suspension system
•Unsprung weight – Weight of vehicle parts below the
suspension system (axles, Wheels etc.)
THE WHEEL TRACK & WHEEL BASE
THANK YOU.