Browse Topic: Bodies and Structures
Engineers have harnessed quantum physics to detect the presence of biomolecules without the need for an external light source, overcoming a significant obstacle to the use of optical biosensors in healthcare.
This SAE Recommended Practice specifies an intrusion resistance test method for glazing systems installed in motor vehicles. Intrusion resistance performance is determined not solely by the glazing but also by the glazing attachment to the vehicle and by the vehicle structure. Therefore, the glazing/attachment/vehicle structure must be tested as a single unit. This test determines intrusion resistance only. The test applies to those materials that meet the requirements for use as safety glazing materials as specified in ANSI/SAE Z26.1 or other applicable standards. The test applies to all installation locations.
Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, conceptualized to be used as air taxis for transporting cargo or passengers, are generally lighter in weight than jet-fueled aircraft, and fly at lower altitudes than commercial aircraft. These differences render them more susceptible to turbulence, leading to the possibility of instabilities such as Dutch-roll oscillations. In traditional fixed-wing aircraft, active mechanisms used to suppress oscillations include control surfaces such as flaps, ailerons, tabs, and rudders, but eVTOL aircraft do not have the control surfaces necessary for suppressing Dutch-roll oscillations.
Advanced motion control technologies are essential to modern aerospace design, supporting a wide range of safety-critical and comfort-driven applications. In aerospace, motion control components such as gas springs, actuators, and dampers are integral to nearly every commercial aircraft, rocket, satellite, and space vehicle. These critical elements support flight safety and transport functions, from the dependable deployment of landing gear and cargo doors to the smooth, ergonomic operation of seating for pilots and passengers.
In a groundbreaking achievement, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) earlier this year became the first unit to successfully use the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) function of the Army/Navy Portable Radio Communications (AN/PRC) 158 and 162 radios for conventional rotary wing operations. The trailblazing accomplishment occurred as the brigade continued its mission of providing support to ground forces, April 9, 2025.
In a groundbreaking achievement, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) earlier this year became the first unit to successfully use the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) function of the Army/Navy Portable Radio Communications (AN/PRC) 158 and 162 radios for conventional rotary wing operations. The trailblazing accomplishment occurred as the brigade continued its mission of providing support to ground forces, April 9, 2025. The MUOS function, of the AN/PRC-158 and 162 radios, operates by transmitting ultra-high frequency radio waves through a constellation of satellites to create a steady communications network. MUOS is a component of a bigger Integrated Tactical Network (ITN).
A Rear Underrun Protection Device (RUPD) is a safety feature installed on the rear end of chassis of trailers, designed to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath the rear of the trailer in the event of a collision. Therefore, it plays a critical role in reducing the risk of serious injuries or fatalities. The RUPD standard is updated aiming to improve the strength and resistance of these devices, therefore improving the road safety. This paper shares the author’s experience with the latest standards and regulations for Rear Underrun Protection Devices (RUPD), with a focus on the use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). It provides a general overview of RUPD standard requirements and suggests several AHSS steel tube sizes suitable for the main longitudinal member, serving as a starting point for design. Key design parameters and potential failure points in RUPD structures are discussed, along with possible solutions. Finite Element Modeling (FEM) is commonly used in the
This SAE Recommended Practice describes the test procedures for conducting quasi-static cab roof strength tests for heavy-truck applications. Its purpose is to establish recommended test procedures that will standardize the procedure for heavy trucks. Descriptions of the test setup, test instrumentation, photographic/video coverage, and test fixtures are included.
This SAE Standard establishes the minimum construction and performance requirements for a 15 pole connector between towing vehicles and trailers, for trucks, trailers, and dollies, for 12 VDC nominal applications in conjunction with SAE J2742. The connector accommodates both power and ISO 11992-1 signal circuits along with dual ground wires to accommodate grounding requirements within the constraints of the SAE J2691 terminal capacity.
The scope of this SAE performance standard is to provide a simple, practical, and broadly applicable test procedure for appraising luminous Illuminant A reflectance of reflecting safety glazing materials for road vehicles. This SAE performance standard, which provides a simple test procedure widely used in the optics field, may be used to measure the reflectivity which films applied to safety glazing materials for road vehicles may enhance. This test procedure applies to conditions where feasibility, rather than accuracy of measurement, is of prime importance. Measurements can be made outside laboratories in a quality control environment and in similar applications, when glazings, instead of small test specimens, have to be tested.
This SAE Information Report applies to structural integrity, performance, drivability, and serviceability of personally licensed vehicles not exceeding 10000 pounds GVWR such as sedans, crossovers, SUVs, MPVs, light trucks, and van-type vehicles that are powered by gas and alternative fuel such as electric, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid technologies. It provides engineering direction to vehicle modifiers in a manner that does not limit innovation, and it specifies procedures for preparing vehicles to enhance safety during vehicle modifications. It further provides guidance and recommendations for the minimum acceptable design requirements and performance criteria on general and specific structural modifications, thereby allowing consumers and third-party payers the ability to obtain and purchase equipment that meets or exceeds the performance and safety of the OEM production vehicle.
This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) provides design criteria for onboard stairways intended for use by passengers aboard multi-deck transport category airplanes. It is not intended for stairways designed for use only by crewmembers, supernumeries, or maintenance personnel. Additionally, this AS does not apply to fuselage mounted or external stairways used for boarding passengers, which are covered by ARP836.
This SAE Recommend Practice establishes for passenger cars, light trucks, and multipurpose vehicles with GVW of 4500 kg (10000 pounds) or less, as defined by the EPA, and M1 category vehicles, as defined by the European Commission:
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) discusses the nature of landing gear stability, describes many common landing gear stability problems, and suggests approaches and methods for solving or avoiding them.
The American truck market is huge. The trucks themselves are also quite large. Pickups went from workhorse machines to enormous luxury vehicles with equally large price tags. Even the Maverick, Ford's latest entry, has seen its price creep up since its debut. The antithesis of the current market is the newly unveiled Slate pickup. A small, two-door, two-seater, bare-bones electric truck that doesn't have power windows, leather interior, or even an entertainment system. It also doesn't boast an insane zero to 60 time, even though it's an EV. Instead, it flies in the face of everything that's happening in the truck market, and it might just be what many customers are looking for.
Volvo Trucks North America launches the all-new VNR with standard D13 VGT engine and announces an upcoming CARB- 24 Omnibus compliant engine variant. When Volvo Trucks revealed its all-new VNR regional haul truck in March 2025, it also marked the launch of something new under the hood: the Volvo D13 VGT (variable geometry turbo) engine. The new D13 VGT engine will be standard in the VNR and optional for the VNL day cab. The D13 VGT engine builds on improvements launched with the D13 Turbo Compound engine, which is standard on the new VNL (www.sae.org/news/2024/02/volvo-vnl-launch) that commenced commercial production at the New River Valley assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia, in October 2024.
Swimming robots play a crucial role in mapping pollution, studying aquatic ecosystems, and monitoring water quality in sensitive areas such as coral reefs or lake shores. However, many devices rely on noisy propellers, which can disturb or harm wildlife. The natural clutter in these environments — including plants, animals, and debris — also poses a challenge to robotic swimmers.
Mechanical light detection and ranging (LiDAR) units utilize spinning lasers to scan surrounding areas to enable limited autonomous driving. The motors within the LiDAR modules create vibration that can propagate through the vehicle frame and become unwanted noise in the cabin of a vehicle. Decoupling the module from the body of the vehicle with highly damped elastomers can reduce the acoustic noise in the cabin and improve the driving experience. Damped elastomers work by absorbing the vibrational energy and dispelling it as low-grade heat. By creating a unique test method to model the behavior of the elastomers, a predictable pattern of the damping ratio yielded insight into the performance of the elastomer throughout the operating temperature range of the LiDAR module. The test method also provides an objective analysis of elastomer durability when exposed to extreme temperatures and loading conditions for extended periods of time. Confidence in elastomer behavior and life span was
Items per page:
50
1 – 50 of 11622