December’s NewsletterMore testing, more!

November saw CR10 taken out twice more to Llandow for data collection and driver training. For the first time, a floor and diffuser was fitted to CR10 along with lots of pink string to visualise airflow at different points and reinforce simulated models ran in Ansys FLUENT.At present a compactRIO, Arduino and various other data collection tools can be seen in an extra side pod that has been added. With the addition of National Instruments to the team, Cardiff Racing hopes to minimise our testing equipment into a smaller package whilst adding more features for driver feedback and controls.

GE Aero Engines VisitMany of our team members opt to take a year out of academic study to work in industry, gaining valuable experience and new skills. Thanks to the successful completion of these placements Cardiff Racing is fortunate to have numerous links with industry.These allowed a group of team members to visit GE Aviation in Nantgarw in order to learn about the company and its’ placement opportunities.

The group were given a tour through the site, where aircraft engines are overhauled and tested. They were able to see the complete process an engine goes through, from when it arrives at the site to being finally re assembled and passed for future usage. After this inside view of the site the group were able to learn about GE as a wider company, through a presentation, before getting the chance to speak to and ask questions of students currently working at the site for the year.

The visit proved an exciting learning occasion and opportunity for our team members to network with professional engineers. Please get in touch if you would be able to offer a similar experience.

Photos courtesy of ge.com & flightglobal

Hyperworks TrainingOn the 19th November, Jacquelyn Quirk, an Altair employee visited Cardiff Racing to give a lecture on the fundamentals of Altair's topology optimization software 'Inspire'. As a group, we found it very informative and will not only greatly help us on reducing weight on this years car CR11; but give the 3rd year members the opportunity to use it in their university projects. To contribute to our sponsorship, every member was given the option of receiving a years free license of Hyperworks worth £20,000 each. Cardiff Racing has found our relationship with Altair incredibly beneficial and hope to continue it for the foreseeable future.

Advanced Engineering ShowOn 11th November the team attended The Advanced Engineering Show at the NEC in Birmingham. Whilst we were there we attended a number of interesting seminars where new innovations in the industry were presented, expanding our knowledge of the manufacturing and designing capabilities we could use as part of the team. We now intend to apply the knowledge gained when designing new parts for our cars in future. The event also gave us the opportunity to interact and touch base with some of our existing suppliers and sponsors who were exhibiting there, as well as discussing extending our relationship in to the future with them. All in all, the day was deemed by all members who attended to be very interesting and incredibly valuable. The annual Advanced Engineering Show will now be a regular event in Cardiff Racing’s calendar as we recognise the benefit in adopting the new innovations available to us to enable us to be even more competitive and develop as a team.

Dancing on sticky, black tiptoesNigel Rees, an alumni who has now set up his vehicle dynamics consultancy as GSD RaceDyn, visited Cardiff on 10th Nov to work on our CR10 car. He analysed the car and has given us feedback on how to improve its performance.

This was followed by a guest lecture to the Formula Student team on dynamic vehicle behaviour. He covered the fundamental concepts, with diagrams such as the G-G-V diagram. He also explained the settings of understeer and over steer, and their effects on control characteristics. He stated that the type of tyres would also require different suspension settings. Comparing tyres to springs, and the roles they each assume when encountering vibrations; it was reiterated that it is always the slip angle, not the steering input, that steers the vehicle on a race car. Nigel’s colleague, Frederico, introduced and explained derivative analysis of grip, with an example.

Finally, Nigel challenged our team to come up with a cheap way to measure yaw moment and inertia of a car, for a prize of £250. The deadline is 31st

December if anyone feels like taking up the challenge.

In other news The team are committed this year to keep up our slogan of Blood, Sweat and Tears to demonstrate the commitment everyone applies. For charity we are taking this a little bit more literally and a number of the team gave blood with the Welsh Blood service for the first of three challenges this year. Charity donations for the cause are welcomed.

Quiz NightOn November 6th the engineering forum within our University played host to our first general knowledge quiz night of the year. Raising money for Ty Hafan. Over £200 went to a good cause, keep an eye out for further events.

Construction continues with rear space frame designs starting to be finalised and our front roll hoop and dash being constructed and fitted into the chassis. Steering components are also underway.