Best vehicle design & construction books according to redditors
We found 18 Reddit comments discussing the best vehicle design & construction books. We ranked the 14 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
8. Spacecraft Structures and Mechanisms : From Concept to Launch
1 mention
Used Book in Good Condition
That's funny, and I support cross walk stings, but this was done poorly. Human vision works largely by recognizing relevant objects and discarding the rest. We should expect to see humans in cross walks, and citations for failing to see that is appropriate. We do not expect to see giant cones in the cross walk though. Or to put it more simply, they didn't fail to see a pedestrian in the cross walk, they failed to recognize a fake traffic cone as a pedestrian. This book covers the topic quite nicely. It's an expensive book, but probably worth it if you're going to fight the ticket.
Moving between bodies is a huge task for a spacecraft. As you, or if you delve into spacecraft design you will see that nearly all of them are very specially purpose built for their specific mission.
To figure out what you need you really have to start with a precise list of requirements for your spacecraft and stick with them. If you attempt to design something that is general purpose it will drive you up a wall.
As far as actual technical guidance, I would highly recommend you get and old copy of SMAD (http://www.amazon.com/Spacecraft-Structures-Mechanisms-Concept-Technology/dp/1881883035/ref=pd_sim_b_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=10QSAC9RY0RZBV42N24C)
It should be the starting point for any spacecraft.
As far as I know there are no off the shelf designs for spacecraft components which are open source. This is because designing and validating those designs is a very expensive task, and export restrictions. However, there are a lot of electrical components out there that can be used in spacecraft. Many automotive grade computers will survive earth orbit just fine, once you have replaced the electrolytic capacitors. I'm sure there are many cameras who could also be made 'space ready' pretty easily. The canadian spacecraft MOST is using automotive grade electronics and is doing well.
Also, I know this guy who is making an open source electronics board that he hopes to be space rated at some point in the future. I don't know if he is shipping these things yet. (http://www.solarsystemexpress.com/gdb-e-series.html)
Feel free to post your specifics for what you want to do with this - post your wildest dreams for what you want to do if you want. :)
This question has been asked a bunch of times, but the one post I've found the most helpful was /u/that_video_art_guy's response in this post. For quick reference, here's the copy/paste:
I've read many of these books, I'm partial to the mechanics and team member books but find all of them to be very enjoyable.
The Super Collective Super list of Super Good F1 Books:
Mechanics/Team Members
[Life in the Pit Lane: Mechanic's Story of the Benetton Grand Prix Year](
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Pit-Lane-Mechanics-Benetton/dp/0760300267/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356716346&sr=1-5&keywords=steve+matchett) - Steve Matchett
[The Mechanic's Tale: Life in the Pit-Lanes of Formula One](
http://www.amazon.com/Mechanics-Tale-Life-Pit-Lanes-Formula/dp/0752827839/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356716346&sr=1-1&keywords=steve+matchett) - Steve Matchett
The Chariot Makers: Assembling the Perfect Formula 1 Car - Steve Matchett
Team Lotus: My View From the Pitwall - Peter Warr
Jo Ramirez: Memoirs of a Racing Man - Jo Ramirez
Art of War - Five Years in Formula One - Max Mosley, Adam Parr, Paul Tinker
Tales from the Toolbox: A Collection of Behind-the-Scenes Tales from Grand Prix Mechanics - Michael Oliver, Jackie Stewart
Technical Books
Red Bull Racing F1 Car: Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual
McLaren M23: 1973 Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual
Lotus 72: 1970 Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual
Tune to Win: The art and science of race car development and tuning - Carroll Smith
Engineer to Win - Carroll Smith
Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook AKA: Screw to Win - Carroll Smith
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics: Problems, Answers and Experiments - Doug Milliken
Chassis Design: Principles and Analysis - William F. Milliken, Douglas L. Milliken, Maurice Olley
The Racing & High-Performance Tire: Using Tires to Tune for Grip & Balance - Paul Haney
Technical Driving
Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving - Ross Bentley
Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving - Carl Lopez
Working the Wheel - Martin Brundle
Drivers and Rivalry's
Senna Versus Prost: The Story of the Most Deadly Rivalry in Formula One - Malcolm Folley
The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit - Michael Cannell
Winning Is Not Enough: The Autobiography - Sir Jackie Stewart
Shunt: The Story of James Hunt - Tom Rubython
Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory: A Memoir of Racing Success, Adversity, and Courage - Alex Zanardi, Gianluca Gasparini, Mario Andretti.
It Is What It Is: The Autobiography - David Coulthard
Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula 1 the Hard Way! - Perry McCarthy The Black Stig, Damon Hill
F1 Through the Eyes of Damon Hill: Inside the World of Formula 1 - Damon Hill, Photography: Sutton Images
People Of F1
Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One - Professor Sid Watkins
Beyond the Limit - Professor Sid Watkins
I Just Made The Tea: Tales from 30 years inside Formula 1 - Di Spires
Bernie: The Biography of Bernie Ecclestone - Susan Watkins
Picture Books
McLaren The Cars: Updated 2011 Edition
Art of the Formula 1 Race Car - Stuart Codling, James Mann, Peter Windsor, Gordon Murray
People never believe me, but I constantly tell them we're really good at building planes... as there is a lot of data to infer from, which is why we have several extremely, notable books. Rocket and space craft design are a grey area. The one that is always recommended first to everyone is "Space Mission Analysis and Design". Most colleges use it and it's #1.
I can't speak for this "Spacecraft Systems Engineering." The recommendations say it's a good supplement to the book I mentioned above-so that's a good sign. Would consider getting it afterward the one above.
I bought Modern Automotive Technology after a good amount of research. I have been very happy with it. It goes system by system explaining how they work and then explaining how to service them. Lots of different diagrams from different makes and models. pretty good review questions. Also covers hybrid and electric systems.
I find that the internet is a good resource for specific questions but I really need the organization of a book to force myself to learn in a systematic way.
Also that VW books that u/officeroffkilter recommended is only about aircooled VWs and is not going to be very relevant anything more modern (which is almost everything on the road today). Although it may be a great book for the basics.
If you're interested in ride/handling or chassis design:
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics
The Science of Vehicle Dynamics
Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics
Chassis Design: Principles and Analysis
Also if you or anyone else is really looking into it the two most useful text book I found to be SMAD (Space Mission Analysis and Design): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mission-Analysis-Design-Technology-Library/dp/9401051925/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=space+mission+analysis+and+design&qid=1559028595&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Other good reads are Fundamentals of Astrodynamics (which is much more relevant for KSP) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fundamentals-Astrodynamics-Dover-Aeronautical-Engineering/dp/0486600610/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SWR1ICPOGQ7X&keywords=fundamentals+of+astrodynamics&qid=1559028689&s=gateway&sprefix=the+fundamentals+of+astro%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1 And Ignition! to cover the history in a very entertaining manner https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ignition-Informal-Propellants-University-Classics/dp/0813595835/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/259-4345144-1867258?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0813595835&pd_rd_r=9e3755d8-811a-11e9-9b3b-b9bbd55e85d0&pd_rd_w=sq1G0&pd_rd_wg=m37dV&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=WPHT2J5EFR2KZ1WYVJEX&psc=1&refRID=WPHT2J5EFR2KZ1WYVJEX .
You can probably find pdfs online for those if you look mind.
This might sound trivial and silly, but really the best place to start when it comes to familiarizing yourself with all the systems that go into specifically an electric FSAE car is the rule book. Recruit a bunch of students with an EE/Mechatronics/Software/Computer Science background into your team, study the EV section of the rules, and brainstorm. As with the rest of the car, you as a team are completely free to choose how to implement your electronics so long as you are rule compliant. Other than that, this book, this book and/or this book might help (haven't read them myself).
A good book: http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Space-Craft-Interplanetary-Astronautical/dp/3540895094/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1368739956&sr=8-7&keywords=deep+spacecraft
But please feel free to visit the Cassini mission website. Free! http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/ (Alice)
First things first: this was literally the first result when I googled "engine design textbook" Kevin Hoad: Vehicular Engine Design
I don't have experience with that book so I can attest to its quality. I have, however, read sections of the following books:
Robert Norton: Design of Machinery 5th edition
Gwidon Stachowiak: Engineering Tribology, 4th edition: for piston ring design.
Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design
http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Automotive-Technology-James-Duffy/dp/1619603705
This was the assigned book in my introduction to automotive repair class. Excellent content on pretty much all areas of automotive repair and maintenance, along with ASE type questions at the end of each chapter to further aid understanding. I recently studied this book hard and passed my A5 (Brakes) exam with flying colors
I wouldn't buy it from Amazon though, you could likely find it cheaper elsewhere.
Car Smarts by Mary Jackson
Car Smarts: An Easy-to-Use Guide to Understanding Your Car and Communicating with Your Mechanic https://www.amazon.com/dp/1562614576/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_GrYszbEPAA0NG
Its not meant for hard core mechanics or car guys... it's meant just to be an overview or guide. Plus, its written by a woman, so should be a plus there! :-)
This one is comprehensive and, importantly for me, well-illustrated. :-)
http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Technology-Edition-James-Halderman/dp/0132542617
(Automotive Technology by James Halderman)
I hear this a lot and find it pretty frustrating, because it's really not true: it assumes you know what "basic maintenance" is, and the right keywords to look for.
A list of truly basic maintenance items that every car owner should be able to do:
DIY is great, but you absolutely need to understand WTF you're doing and not just assume that random videos can substitute for true understanding. If you're serious about mechanical DIY beyond the basics, I suggest reading the following:
Budget $500-1000 for all the tools and parts you'll need: torque wrenches, ratchet and socket sets, breaker bars, etc. If possible, buy a cheap Japanese beater mobile for $500 (Toyota, Honda, etc.) that you can find a service manual for (e.g. Haynes at a minimum, although IMO Bentley is much better). Then do everything you can to get it running right: the advantage of doing this on a beater is that if you fail, you're not carless and you won't lose too much even if you have to write the car off. After a few years, you should know enough about cars to tell good mechanics from crooks, and when it's worth it to pay an expert.