Automotive Engineering Fundamentals

Jeff Ball is currently a Senior Engineer for Knott Laboratory in Centennial, Colorado. Previously, he was an Associate Professor, Instructor Pilot, and Deputy Department Head in the Department of Engineering Mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Mechanics from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Masters of Engineering degree from Purdue University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science degree from the University of Oxford. Dr. Ball began teaching in 1993. For 10 years prior to teaching, he was a fighter pilot, instructor pilot, and flight examiner in the F-4D, F-4E, and AT-38B aircraft. His current research involves alternative powerplants for unmanned aerial vehicles. Dr. Ball has taught courses in statics, dynamics, strength of materials, thermodynamics, machine design, industrial design, and automotive systems analysis.

Richard Stone is a Reader in Engineering Science in the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford. He was appointed to a lectureship at Oxford in 1993, and for 11 years prior to that appointment, he was a Lecturer! Senior Lecturer at Brunel University. Dr. Stone’s main interest is combustion in spark ignition engines, but he also has interests in fuel cells and the measurement of laminar burning velocities in zero gravity. He is undertaking a longitudinal study of vehicle technology that commenced with 1 970s technology 20 years ago but now has been extended back to the 1920s, with completion now projected in 2020. Dr. Stone has written approximately 90 papers, most in the areas of engine combustion and instrumentation. He is well known for his book, Introduction to Internal Combustion Engines (third edition, 1999).