AESTHETIC AND AERODYNAMIC DESIGN

The criteria and the methods needed to design a vehicle exterior are described. To achieve fast styling to prototype transition the sequential events of the design process need to become at least in part a parallel process. CAD/CAM (computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing) has the potential to achieve this. Instead of making a scale model from designers' illustrations, which is difficult and time consuming, it is possible to machine complete vehicles very quickly and accurately using a large, high speed multi axis cnc machine working from a CAD database. Also, the visualization of shape and style using spectrographic enhancements makes styling on the screen possible. Verification of shape and form can be achieved using computer colour shading and features of advance surface design and this can be plotted out as full sized curves for inspection. The CAM process commences by taking a fully CAD surfaced model or panel and applying a nc software program to create a cutter data file in 3, 4 or 5 axis. Once this has been part processed into a form acceptable to a cnc machine controller, the full sized model can be machined in a relatively low cost soft material for styling appraisal. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03076490
• Corporate Authors:

  Mechanical Engineering Publications Limited

  P.O. Box 24, Northgate Avenue
  Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 6BW,   England 
• Authors:
  • Saunders, R J
• Publication Date: 1987-6-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 32-33
• Serial:
  • AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • ISSN: 0307-6490

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Aesthetics; Computer aided design; Computer aided manufacturing; Motor vehicle bodies; Vehicle design
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile bodies
• ITRD Terms: 5492: Aerodynamics; 9107: Aesthetics; 8657: Computer aided design; 9011: Design (overall design); 6473: Mathematical model; 9073: Shape; 9103: Simulation; 6438: Surface; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00470178
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1988 12:00AM