2013 Formula SAE Chassis and Suspension Research and Development

The significance of the chassis and suspension team was to research and create a student designed formula car rolling chassis. It is very important to the automotive engineering department in particular because it brings together topics of our area of study and gives students a hands on approach, not only learning but also teaching others areas of importance in a vehicle. The chassis and suspension side is important because it is the area of safety in a vehicle; it protects and prohibits injury to a driver of a vehicle. Safety is a very important characteristic in any area of study and getting hands on learning experience has helped all involved in the project. There was research conducted all the way through this project not only through literature, but also through trial and error. Focusing on smaller goals just on the frame side of the project extensive research is spent on frame rigidity and structural strength to find the ideal design. Not only to protect the driver but to protect the vehicle from bending or twisting which would in turn, lose abilities of other systems applied to the chassis. Several computerized programs were used to test the simulated rigidity and resistance of the frame to twist and bend in a real life situation. the same programs were also used on the suspension and suspension components