Search Results

Motivated by the continually growing challenge of the Formula SAE® competition, the primary goal of the present study is to design and fabricate a prototype of shock absorber adapted to the requirements of performance, adjustability, reliability, cost and weight of a Formula SAE vehicle, which are not fully satisfied by commercially available dampers. After defining some general characteristics of the prototype, the desired characteristic curve (Force vs. Velocity), effective damping coefficient, and compression/extension ratio are established. The quarter car model is used to study the road roughness effect on the ride and handling of the vehicle. Detailed dimensioning and mechanical strength verification is performed after an analysis of the loads on the prototype. Finally, the prototype is mounted on a dynamometer to determine its characteristic curve and verify the requirements fulfillment.

Motivated by the continually growing challenge of the Baja SAE competition, the primary goal of the present study is to understand the behavior of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), manufactured by CVTech-IBC® for Baja SAE vehicles, and understand the way in which each element of the calibration kit (masses, drive pulley spring, and driven pulley spring) provided by the manufacturer affect this behavior. A characterization procedure for the particular engine-CVT couple employed is defined by establishing the variables to be studied and a test protocol. An ad-hoc dynamometer was designed and built, able to measure drive pulley's rpm, driven pulley's rpm, and torque on the output shaft. Then, Power versus Output rpm charts for each configuration is generated for each possible combination of the calibration kit elements. Finally describing how each of these elements changes the CVT behavior.