Are there any good books anyone can reccomend?

I'm currently studying a Foundation course in Games Design (we've just started using DirectX to accelerate 3D graphics ) and like the idea of specialising in racing game physics.

Not really a book, but a lot of useful information:
http://regedit.gamedev.pl/Mirr ... hysics%20for%20Games.html

Of course it doesn't cover everything, but it's a very useful reference to use. It doesn't give a specific implementation, that's all up to you.

That link isn't a bad introduction for someone new to the area of vehicle dynamics. Some of the data is questionable and there are simplifications about, but it's certainly enough to get you started.

It's worth bearing in mind that this is a very small area of interest when it comes to games, for example the company I work for has specialised in racing games for 12 years or so, yet never had a full time programmer for the sole purpose of vehicle dynamics until they hired me. Past employees generally worked on areas such as the main physics solver and other mathematically intensive areas (perhaps 3D graphics).

As I see it, there are three levels of maths/physics work involved:
* The physics solver; handles rigid bodies, forces being applied to them, constraints between rigid bodies (e.g. articulated vehicles), and collisions
* The vehicle dynamics engine; the specifics of your vehicle modelling, models all the moving parts, creates the forces that the physics solver works with
* The mechanical level; creates the numbers that are used in the equations that form the vehicle dynamics engine

I've a small stack of vehicle dynamics books on my desk, I'll post what they are when I get to work tomorrow, and try and give an idea of how useful they are.
Other types of books I don't have, but would be useful, would be books in the fields of mechanical engineering, differential mathematics, and general programming in your language of choice.

rigs of rods recently went open source... maybe itll give you a bit of an idea how it all works

Right, the books on my desk atm:

Tyre and Vehicle Dynamics, Second Edition - Hans B. Pacejka - ISBN 0-7506-6918-7
This booking is essentially all about tyres, and goes into great depths on different methods for modelling tyres, including his famous Magic Formula, and IMO goes far beyond the scope required by race sims (at the current level of development). While not an all round book, and certainly not a book to start with, it's a good book to get at some point and is almost essential if you are going to be working with the Magic Formula.

Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics - Thomas D. Gillespie - ISBN 1-56091-199-9
I've only had this book more recently and have read very little of it (we specifically got the book due to the section it has on engine and drivetrain inertia), but it does cover a broad area, and despite example figures being in non-SI units, the equations as listed do not contain any silly conversion constants. Looks like it could be a solid first book in the area.

The Multibody Systems Approach to Vehicle Dynamics - Michael Blundell and Damian Harty - ISBN 0-7506-5112-1
This book is another I've read little of, is perhaps similar to the previous book in that it covers a broad area, but looks a lot more maths based. Uses SI units throughout. Generally looks a bit more advanced than Gillespie's book. May or may not be a better book to begin with, depends how mathematically adept you are and in you want to be thrown in with the heavy stuff.

Motor Vehicle Dynamics (Modelling and Simulation) - Giancarlo Genta - ISBN 981-02-2911-9
This book is another that covers a broad area, perhaps contains a few more hard facts and figures than others. Again, I'm not so familiar with this one.

Tires, Suspension and Handling - John C. Dixon - ISBN 1-56091-831-4
This book I have read a bit more thoroughly, seems to have a bit more text between equations, and larger, cleaner diagrams. Also has a few pages at the back for facts and figures. Perhaps not quite as broad as some.

Race Car Vehicle Dynamics - Milliken & Millken - ISBN 1-56091-526-9
The largest, thickest book here. Covers a broad area, but doesn't use SI units. Might have more on aerodynamics than the other books. Contains lots of advice for setting up cars too.

To be honest, I'm not sure I could clearly recommend any of these books above any of the others, I just haven't read them enough. I could spend months just reading all this text. I generally use them to look up the area of interest at the time.

HTH

Thanks Bob, that's fantastic

I've got A-levels in Maths and Physics, and half a physics degree (from my first attempt at uni, 10 years or so ago ) so lots of facts and figures aren't a problem.

I like the look of the tyres suspension & handling, and multibody books.

Quote from Bob Smith :

Tires, Suspension and Handling - John C. Dixon - ISBN 1-56091-831-4

80 quid on Amazon!!

*cough*

Download PDF for £0.00

You might be already aware of this, but here it is anyway.

http://phors.locost7.info/file ... The_Physics_of_Racing.pdf

No, I didn't know about that, thanks