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Transport Topics

Aerodrome
Alternative name for Airfield.
Aircraft
Any structure, machine, or contrivance, especially a vehicle, designed to be supported by the air.
Airfield
An area set aside for the operation of aircraft.
Alternative Fuels
Substitutes for traditional liquid, oil-derived motor vehicle fuels like gasoline and diesel.
Astronaut
A person who rides in a space vehicle.
Automobile
A self-powered vehicle that travels on land typically with three or four wheels and with 2 to 9 seats.
B100 Biodiesel
100% biodiesel.
B20 Biodiesel
A blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum-based diesel where 20% of the volume is biodiesel.
Ballast
Any liquid or solid weight placed in a vehicle to change the weight distribution or trim.
Ballast Tank
Tanks at the bottom or sides of a ship which are filled with seawater for ballasting purpose.
Balloon
A lighter than air craft. The Montgolfier brothers made the first flight in a hot air balloon in 1783.
Bin
A set of emissions standards under the new U.S. Tier 2 emissions program.
Biodiesel
Diesel fuel derived from renewable lipid feedstocks, such as vegetable oils and animal fats.
Biodiesel B100
100% (neat) biodiesel. The mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable lipid feedstocks, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, diesel engines

Biodiesel B20
A blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum-based diesel where 20% of the volume is biodiesel.
Boat
A small craft that floats on water.
Brunel, Isambard Kingdom
Creator of the Great Western Railway, bridge builder and revolutionary naval architect.
CAA
Abbreviation of Civil Aviation Authority.
CAFE
Corporate Average Fuel Economy
Car
A more common name for an automobile.
Catalytic Converter
An air pollution abatement device that removes pollutants from motor vehicle exhaust, either by oxidizing them into carbon dioxide and water or reducing them to nitrogen.
Ceiling
The overhead upper surface.
Civil Aviation Authority
The UK′s independent specialist aviation regulator. Its activities include economic regulation, airspace policy, safety regulation and consumer protection.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy
A U.S. regulation requiring auto companies to meet certain sales weighted average fuel economy levels for passenger cars and light trucks and report these numbers annually.
Cowling
The name of the fairing which, usually, encloses an engine on an aeroplane.
Derated Engine
An engine with a restricted power output.
Drag Link Steering System
Steering system used with solid axles.
Dry Weight
The weight of a machine or vehicle without its lubricants or fuel.
E10 Ethanol
Ethanol mixture that contains 10% ethanol, 90% unleaded gasoline.
E85 Ethanol
Refers to a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Electric Vehicle
A vehicle with one or more electric motors for propulsion.
Ethanol E10
Ethanol mixture that contains 10% ethanol, 90% unleaded gasoline.

Ethanol E85
Refers to a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Flexible Fuel Vehicle
A vehicle that can be run on any blend of unleaded gasoline with up to 85 percent ethanol.
Floor
The walking surface of a room or vehicle.
Flywheel Battery
A battery in which the energy is stored in a flywheel, electrical energy is added or removed from the rotating flywheel using an electric motor.
Fuselage
The main body of the aircraft.
Gasohol
Ethanol mixture that contains 10% ethanol, 90% unleaded gasoline.
Grade of a Slope
The pitch of a slope, and is often expressed as a percent tangent, or rise over run.
Hybrid Vehicle
A vehicle that combines a conventional propulsion system and a rechargeable energy storage system.
Jet Engine
An engine that discharges a fast moving jet of fluid.
LEV
Abbreviation of Low Emission Vehicle.
Lever Arm Steering System
This steering system allows large steering angles to be achieved at the wheels.
Low Emission Vehicle
A level of standards for tailpipe emissions.
Micro Hybrid Vehicle
Also known as a simple engine stop-start system as the main advantage is stopping the engine when the vehicle is stationary and then restarting the engine before pulling away.
Mild Hybrid Vehicle
An electric motor allows some overrun energy to be absorbed and to stop-start the engine when the vehicle is stationary.
Parallel Hybrid Vehicle
The power may be provided by the internal combustion engine or the electric motor or a combination of the two.
Partial Zero Emission Vehicle
A vehicle that meets SULEV tailpipe emissions and has zero fuel evaporative emissions.
Power-Split Hybrid Vehicle
The power may be provided by the internal combustion engine or the electric motor or a combination of the two.
PZEV
Abbreviation of Partial Zero Emission Vehicle.
Rack and Pinion Steering
The most common steering system on passenger cars.
Regenerative Braking
The absorption and re-use of energy dissipated whilst braking a vehicle.
Rolling Friction
Another name for Rolling Resistance.
Rolling Resistance
The resistance that occurs when a round object such as a ball or tire rolls on a flat surface.
Rotary Engine
The crankshaft is fixed and the crankcase, pistons and cylinders rotate with the propeller.
Rotor
A rotating part.
Specific Fuel Consumption
The amount of fuel needed to provide a given power for a given period.
Steering
The collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow for a vessel or vehicle to follow the desired course.
SULEV
Abbreviation of Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle.
Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle
A level of standards for tailpipe emissions.
Traction Battery
A battery designed to be used to provide the power to move a vehicle.
Vehicle
A means of transport, generally meaning an automobile.
Vehicle Aerodynamic Drag
Resistance of a vehicle body to motion through the air.
Vehicle Emissions
Harmful pollutants to the health and the environment include particulates, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, and various oxides of nitrogen.
Wankel Engine
A rotary engine with a rotor rotating in an oval cylinder. Named after it′s designer Felix Wankel.
Wind Tunnel
A tunnel with a large fan that is used by engineers to test the effects of high winds on a structure.
Wing
A surface that has an airfoil cross-section and is used to generate lift.
Yaw
The rotation of a body about a vertical axis.
Zero Emission Vehicle
A level of standards for tailpipe emissions.
Zero-Length Rocket
A rocket with sufficient thrust to launch a vehicle directly into the air.
ZEV
Abbreviation of Zero Emission Vehicle.

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Science & Engineering Encyclopaedia Version 2.4 © 2001-2010 Dirac Delta Consultants Limited