Chassis
 The
chassis forms the main structure of the modern automobile. A large
number of designs in pressed-steel frame form a skeleton on which the
engine, wheels, axle assemblies, transmission, steering mechanism,
brakes, and suspension members are mounted. During the manufacturing
process the body is flexibly bolted to the chasis.
This combination of the body and frame performs a variety of functions.
It absorbs the reactions from the movements of the engine and axle,
receives the reaction forces of the wheels in acceleration and braking,
absorbs aerodynamic wind forces and road shocks through the suspension,
and absorbs the major energy of impact in the event of an accident.
There has been a gradual shift in modern small car designs. There has
been a trend toward combining the chasis frame and the body into a
single structural element. In this grouping, the steel body shell is
reinforced with braces that make it rigid enough to resist the forces
that are applied to it. To achieve better noise-isolation
characteristics, separate frames are used for other cars. The presence
of heavier-gauge steel components in modern separate frame designs also
tends to limit intrusion in accidents.
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