Welcome to the Vehicle Dynamics Homepage!

Please refer to the announcements section in the Main Menu to the left for continuous info regarding assignments, exam dates, etc.

General Information:

Course Description: ME 549 3credits (3-0).  The emphasis of the course is on the analysis and evaluation of the performance of cars and trucks. Students will build their own vehicle models which, by the end of the semester, will be capable of simulating limit maneuvers. Skills needed coming in: basic dynamics, basic ordinary differential equations, and the ability to integrate differential equations numerically and to plot the results using commercial or home grown code. The computer simulations will cover ride, braking and directional response.

Time:  Monday and Wednesday at 3:30 to 5:00 pm.

Place:   1344 Howe Hall or WebCT

Grading:  Homework 150 pts, Midterm 100 pts, Final 150 pts

Contact Information:  Email is always the best initial contact for any help. 

Instructor:  Jim Bernard,  bernard@iastate.edu . 

Teaching Assistant:  Noah Van Dam, kettch22@iastate.edu.  If you are using Matlab, please refer to MATLAB Help for your first contact regarding help with your homework.  Otherwise, please include "ME 549" in the subject line of any emails, thank you.

Text Book: