Engineering
Considerations
As
you design, it is important that you can gauge the requirements of your
engineering work. The nature of the race car's normal operation and
fatigue life depend on the structure and material composition of the
car. Therefore, topics such as metallurgy and structural design are
important for the designer to grasp.
The
whole concept of engineering considerations is that you keep in mind
four aspects, where they are appropriate:
|
Safety
|
Performance
vs. Strength vs. Weight
|
|
Durability
(Life)
|
Cost
|
If
you can optimize all four of these aspects, to select a most appropriate
component, or structure for your car, then you are already winning (or
at least saving your neck)
Safety
is a first consideration. If your car has proven safety, it will be
a great confidence boost to the driver. Where appropriate, save your
neck by using a quality solution.
Performance
vs. Strength vs. Weight is another factor that applies to every
component on a car
Durability
comes into the picture mostly as a factor of weight penalty or cost.
And
finally Cost represents the ultimate limiting factor on most
everything. If you can't afford it, it doesn't matter how well it performs.
Each
of the following sample questions ask the designer to address each of
the four factors is some way, and to strike a balance between them.
|
Sample
Questions About Engineering Considerations
|
| What is the
tortional rigidity of the chassis? Is it sufficient for the class
you are running in? Can it be improved? |
|
What is a
front/side/rear impact going to do to the chassis, at specific
speeds of impact.
|
| Are sufficient
anti-intrusion measures in place |
|
Is the structural
design of mounts for suspension, engine and drivetrain adequate
for the loads they are to carry?
|
| Is the safety
roll bar adequate for protection? |
|
Is the aerodynamic
body design condusive to lift or to downforce? (Good to know,
especially for high speed racing)
|
|
Is the body
optimized for aerodynamics? Assuming the suspension and wheels
are unchangeable, can any part of the body be changed, to improve
aerodynamics? Don't break the rules, should you be using them.
|
| Is the suspension
free of bind? |
| Is the driveline
clear of any obstructions or sensitive areas? |
|
Does spring
and damper selection reflect the conditions to be expected at
various tracks?
|
| What is the
unsprung mass of the tire/wheel/suspension, and can it be improved
within rule limits? |
| What are the
electrical wiring requirements for the entire car? A final design
should include wiring, in order to evaluate potential problems. |
| Are the most
sensitive components of the car shielded adequately from elements
and temperatures? |
| Are the driver
ergonomics such that control operations are all adequate, for drivers
of varying heights/weights? (or perhaps just your height/weight)? |
| Is the fuel
cell compartment adequately designed to prevent fire from igniting
fuel after a mechanical failure or accident-related impact? |
| Are the metallic
and non-metallic materials used (especially in the engine bay),
capable of withstanding the expected engine tempatures? |
|
Are all the
appropriate critical components safety wired?
|
| Are all holes
and cuts in metal properly designed so as to minimize crack propagation? |
| Is the driver
safe from head banging protrusions? |
This is just small
example of the questions you will be able to answer, given a good study
of engineering principles. You will be able to answer many more, assuming
you spend a considerable amount of time getting aquainted with the knowledge.
On
to "Part Requirements" >>
