Vehicle frame
A vehicle frame, also known as its chassis, is the main supporting structure of a motor vehicle to which all other components are attached, comparable to the skeleton of an organism.
Until the 1930s, virtually every (motor) vehicle had a structural frame, separate from the car's body. This construction design is known as body-on-frame. Since then, nearly all passenger cars have received unibody construction, meaning their chassis and bodywork have been integrated into one another. The last UK mass-produced car with a separate chassis was the Triumph Herald, which was discontinued in 1971. However, nearly all trucks, buses and pickups continue to use a separate frame as their chassis.
Functions
The main functions of a frame in motor vehicles are:
To support the vehicle's mechanical components and body
To deal with static and dynamic loads, without undue deflection or distortion.
Weight of the body, passengers, and cargo loads.
Vertical and torsional twisting transmitted by going over uneven surfaces.