Information of Chassis

specification of various
vehicles
PRAJWAL SALEKAR
185057
 Information
Chassis is the main support structure of vehicle is also
known as ‘Frame’. It bears all the stresses on the vehicle in
both static and dynamic conditions. In a vehicle, it is
analogous to the skeleton in living organisms. The origin of
the word Chassis lies in the French language. Every vehicle
whether it is a two-wheeler or a car or a truck has a chassis-
frame. However, its form obviously varies with the vehicle
type.
 1.Conventional chassis or frame-
full chassis
In this type of chassis the body is made as a separate unit and then
joined with ladder frame. It
 supports all the systems in a vehicle such as an Engine, Transmission
system, Steering system, Suspension system.

Advantages:
Higher load capacity and strength
Disadvantages:
The body tends to vibrate easily and the overall vehicle handling and
refinement is lower.
 2.Non-conventional or Frameless
Chassis
In this type of chassis, the ladder frame is absent and the body itself
acts as the frame. It supports all the
 systems in a vehicle such as the Engine, Transmission system,
Steering system, Suspension system.
Advantages:
Lessrattles and squeaks are developed.
Handling is better due to the higher body rigidity and weight.

Disadvantages:
The load carrying capacity is lower.
It is not safe in accidental condition.
 3.Ladder Frame Chassis
 One of the oldest chassis, the ladder chassis gets its name from the
shape of has which simply put, is like a ladder. It has two long and
heavy beams which are supported by two short beams. The main
selling point of the ladder chassis was how easy it was to
manufacture. During the beginning of the era of the automobile,
technology was not really advanced and the simplicity of the ladder
chassis made it easier to mass-produce. The chassis also makes the
car assembly easier. The ladder chassis is quite heavy and thus still
finds use in vehicles that need to tow heavy stuff around.
Advantages:
Easier to assemble as parts can be easily put in.
Construction method makes it quite tough.
 Easier to fix as parts are not permanently attached.

Disadvantages:
 The ladder chassis has a weak torsional
rigidity making it bad for cornering.
 Heavyweight makes it not ideal for sports
cars or hatchbacks.
Ladder Frame Chassis
 4.Backbone Chassis
 Italso gets its name from how it’s constructed. A rectangular cross-
section cylindrical tube through the middle of the chassis that
connects the top and the bottom suspension. The backbone. It’s
present in cars like Skoda Rapid and DMC DeLorean. The
cylindrical tube actually covers the driveshaft thus making it safer
from getting damaged which can also be a disadvantage.
Advantages:
Due to its construction, the half axle has better contact with the
ground when off-roading.
The driveshaft is covered by the chassis makes it more likely to
survive off-roading.
 The structure has good torsional rigidity allowing it to
withstand more twist than ladder chassis.
Disadvantages:
 The driveshaft repair is complicated if it fails as the main chassis covers
the entire shaft which makes it necessary to open it.
 The manufacture of backbone chassis is quite expensive which
increases the cost of cars it is in.
Backbone Chassis
 5.Monocoque Chassis
 A unibody structure, it too gets its name from its structural
look. Monocoque being french for ‘single shell’ or a ‘single
hull’. The monocoque was first used by ships and then by
aeroplanes. It took quite some time to figure out that they can
be used in cars as well. A monocoque is a shell around the car
made by using both chassis as the frame in a single
construction. This is the most commonly used chassis right
now due to the number of advantages of has over the other two
chassis.
Advantages:
It’s safer than both the other chassis due to its cage-like
construction.
The chassis is easy to repair as well.
 It has superior torsional rigidity.

Disadvantages:
The chassis is obviously heavy as it’s both the frame and chassis as
one single entity.
 Producing it in small quantities is not financially feasible and
thus it cannot be used for cars that are not mass-produced.
Monocoque Chassis
 6.Tubular chassis
 Tubular chassis were mainly used in race cars due to the
unrivalled safety they provide. These were an upgrade from the
ladder chassis as they were three dimensional and were
stronger than ladder chassis. They employed the use of a strong
structure below the doors to get more overall strength. Tubular
chassis are rarely used on passenger cars.
Advantages:
 Better rigidity compared to other chassis in the same weight.
 Offers the best weight/rigidity ratio allowing the car to be lightweight while
being strong.
 Best choice for race cars due to lightweight and better rigidity than other
chassis.
Disadvantages:
Tubular chassis are complex structures and cannot be made using autonomous
methods.
Tubular chassis are time-consuming to build and cannot be mass-produced.
Not feasible to be used on passenger cars.
 The structure raises the door which makes it difficult to access the cabin.
Tubular chassis