Topology Optimization of Formula SAE Racecar Uprights

Presenter(s)

Michael Pang, Andrew Fu

Abstract or Description

Every year, Carnegie Mellon Racing (CMR) designs, manufactures, and tests a fully electric, single seater, open wheel race car. We have been consistently successful for the past three years, winning three of the four North American competitions. In order to stay as the top team among the competition and close the gap between us and our more advanced European counterparts, improvements to reduce the mass of the car must be made. Without altering the overall design of the car, the uprights, crucial parts that hold motors and connect the wheels to the chassis, have significant room for weight reduction. The current design is substantially constrained by the subtractive manufacturing method we are employing. To effectively optimize our uprights, we need access to more flexible manufacturing methods than existing subtractive techniques. Therefore, a project on designing topology optimized uprights would considerably benefit our future cars. 

Mentor

Levent Burak Kara