9.1.3 Integral car body
"Integral" means that the parts of the chassis, transmission and engine are attached on elements of this type of body. All the efforts from the road are transferred to the car body. All elements of a body participate in creation of resistance (elements of integral body are shown in Figure 9.1).
To be precise in the definitions, all the elements of the car body and its power structure are hidden from view under the bodywork. Bodywork – side panels, hood, boot lid (or luggage compartment door, depending on body type). In other words, this is everything, which is not responsible for the perception of loads while driving a car. That is why, in case if you or someone "crushed" you in a small or medium-sized accident, the lack of damage to the body will not affect the car. You’ll only need to replace or repair the damaged panel. The bodywork bears the burden of the aerodynamic properties of the car body.
Figure 9.1 Components of integral car body and its bodywork.
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