Today s automotive industry places high demands on the performance and flexibility of development strategies and tools. With constant need for reduction in cost and time for engineering-based development new engineering methods have to support a smart link between the working fields of project engineers, designers, simulation engineers, ergonomic specialists, stylists and all other involved parties. Currently, automotive development is driven by the interaction of virtual design and simulation methods in combination with physical development and testing procedures. The trend is definitely moving towards integrated virtual development which leads to intensified implementation and enhancement of integrated computer-aided design. The book starts with an overview of automotive development processes including a discussion of the manifold past and future requirements. Focusing on computer-aided design, a comprehensive overview of fundamentals in geometry representation gives keen insight into mathematical description and modeling techniques of geometrical elements. The generation and structuring of virtual product models within 3D-CAD environment by use of curve, surface and solid modeling is explained in detail and illustrated by various examples. On the basis of parametric geometry generation different methods and tools which are able to increase efficiency in automotive development are explained and compared. Complex assembling, as usual in automotive development, requires the composition and organization of multifarious product structures. This way, knowledge and engineering data management play an important role within the field. Combining the demands of integrated design processes and efficient data management, the application of knowledge based engineering data management is introduced and discussed. A selection of representative applications give insights into the complex interactions of computer-aided design, knowledge based engineering and data management. It is up to the engineers to tap the full potential of virtual product development, whereas the applied methods and strategies represent a key factor on the way to successful creation of new products. The book is directed, but not restricted, to professional project and design engineers as well as to students of the respective disciplines in mechanical engineering. At the same time it caters to whoever is interested in interactions of state of the art computer-aided development. It is up to the engineers to tap the full potential of virtual product development, whereas the applied methods and strategies represent a key factor on the way to successful creation of new products. The book is directed, but not restricted, to professional project and design engineers as well as to students of the respective disciplines in mechanical engineering. At the same time it caters to whoever is interested in interactions of state of the art computer-aided development.

The automotive industry faces constant pressure to reduce development costs and time while still increasing vehicle quality. To meet this challenge, engineers and researchers in both science and industry are developing effective strategies and flexible tools by enhancing and further integrating powerful, computer-aided design technology. This book provides a valuable overview of the development tools and methods of today and tomorrow. It is targeted not only towards professional project and design engineers, but also to students and to anyone who is interested in state-of-the-art computer-aided development. The book begins with an overview of automotive development processes and the principles of virtual product development. Focusing on computer-aided design, a comprehensive outline of the fundamentals of geometry representation provides a deeper insight into the mathematical techniques used to describe and model geometrical elements. The book then explores the link between the demands of integrated design processes and efficient data management. Within automotive development, the management of knowledge and engineering data plays a crucial role. Some selected representative applications provide insight into the complex interactions between computer-aided design, knowledge-based engineering and data management and highlight some of the important methods currently emerging in the field.