Purpose and general structure of the body

9.1.1 Body types

Car boy is one of the most expensive elements of the car as a whole. It is expensive, because it is complex. Car body has a huge number of individual parts with a complex surface, which therefore require expensive and high-precision manufacturing.

There are the following types of car body:

• framed;

Note
Framed body, in turn, can be both with a full-fledged separate frame, and with a frame, which is integrated into the car body structure (as in the Mitsubishi Pajero Wagon).

• integral.

9.1.2 Framed car body

In this case, there is a three- or two-compartment car body (in case you forgot what the "compartment" of the body is, see Chapter 2), which is installed and mounted on the frame, with engine compartment, passenger compartment, and luggage compartment. The frame has the form of a ladder, with two longitudinal side members, that are connected by crossbars. Chassis and transmission components, as well as the engine are attached to the frame. It turns out that all the loads when moving from the wheels through the suspension are transferred to the frame, the car body is affected by minimal loads. This design is good for SUVs, native element of which is off-road, where rigidity and reliability of the structure are important. The framed car body construction has also become widely used in pickup trucks, the main purpose of which is to transport weights.

But when it comes to comfort and handling, the frame blushes and is embarrassed because it has nothing to answer. Due to the fact that the body is attached to the frame at several points, and all the forces from the wheels are transmitted to this frame, the handling of the car disappears completely. Due to the frame, the car body shall not be lowered sufficiently relative to the chassis and the road. In this case the lowering limit of the center of gravity and the center of mass of the car is limited.

The integral car body is deprived of all shortcomings of a framed body.

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.