February Newsletter

After having gone dottyprepping CR07 and CR10 wefinally torsion tested the cars.After being loaded on to ourpurpose built torsion rig the carswere tested using Digital ImageCorrelation, LVDTs and ‘Qualisys’a motion capture system.

Torsion testing complete

The testing was successful andnow the team is going throughall the data to determine thetorsional stiffness of the twocars. There was a slight accidentwith CR10 however. The intentwith CR10 was for the testing tobe non-destructive so that wecan continue to use the car fordriver training, further on tracktesting and engagement.

During the test however the lefthand side suspension rockergave out. This is a replaceablepart and so the car will soon beback up and running.Future cars will be based fromthese results to produce betterhandling characteristics infuture years.

Cardiff Racing has always been a team focused on the future. And the future is‘light’. In the IMechE Formula Student series weight is one of the most importantfactors of any competitive vehicle and reducing this factor can be key to oneschances of success in the competition. As the team here in Cardiff Racing HQ looktowards solutions that will keep their cars competitive for years to come, the focus,as always, has returned to the issue of weight.

This time the proposition is to innovate in the materials we use by going hybrid.For years the material solution for our monocoque designs has been withaluminium honeycomb, a lightweight material that has proven to be incrediblyresistant to torsional and impact loading without compromise. While this haslended a great deal to our success in previous years, we’ve decided it’s become alittle – dated - for our liking. In other words, in our search for excellence inengineering design we can do better. I present to you a new outlook that we willbe exploring this year – aluminium-carbon hybrid. The idea is to investigate thepossibility of reducing the thickness of the aluminium we use by replacing withcarbon fibre. In-turn this would create a honeycomb material with an aluminiumcentre providing the crash structure we require and a blend of aluminium andcarbon fibre on the surface. As testing of this begins we look to reduce the weightas significantly as possible through the use of carbon fibre, whilst efficientlybalancing cost in the process. The challenge will be to push our weight saving as faras possible without compromising on the safety or quality of what we produce. It’san exciting time to be innovating; it’s an exciting time to be Cardiff Racing.

Carbon Fibre – An alternative to Aluminium?

New postersWith all the engagement activities that we do, we love to give out free posters at events we attend. Here are two new designs hot off the press. Feel free to get in touch for a copy if you would like to print some off for your workplace.

And our 2nd poster design:

On the 19th February, Cardiff Racing was askedto visit a subject options evening at WhitchurchHigh School. Our objective was to advise pupilsthat had an interest in entering the engineeringindustry and possibly inspire pupils that wereundecided. To show what Cardiff Racing isabout our 3D printer 'Ultimaker' was taken,along with our in-house built simulator.Teachers of the school were incredibly gratefulfor the successful evening Cardiff Racing put on.

Cardiff Racing back at school

Back in the build room

Yes you guessed it, work justcontinues on. With the StructuralEquivalency Spreadsheet due onthe 2nd of March, our chassisteam has been hard at workcrashing our new monocoquetest pieces and constructing ournew nosecone.

Elsewhere, new parts for the carcontinue to be produced by the mills,and our rear space frame is almost readyto go off for powder coating! Ourexhaust is also now off at Zircotec beingcoated, so excited to have things backand get the car assembled.

We also raised another £100 for ourpartner charity Ty Hafan on the 12th ofFebruary.

Cardiff Racing has also been granted entry to FS Italy & FS Czech Republic this summer, more info to come soon.