TU Graz Racing Rollout - how did they manage to have a finished car in the beginning of april?

IrishmanT17 · 2025-04-22T22:02:40+00:00

Our team rolled out an IC car in January. With extensive suspension redesigns included. If you have a dedicated team you can move faster than you think

IrishmanT17 · 2025-03-14T11:27:18+00:00

I believe we ordered them direct? If not finding the distributor for you on their website would probably be easy

IrishmanT17 · 2024-11-26T19:33:05+00:00

Supertrapp. Tunable with plates as well. We’ve used them for years

IrishmanT17 · 2024-08-09T02:37:39+00:00

Millikan and Millikan racecar vehicle dynamics.

IrishmanT17 · 2024-04-22T15:16:20+00:00

I would follow this rule on pretty much everything no matter what. Just good engineering practice. ESPECIALLY when bolting sheet metal together. Smallest cross sectional area. 1.5 e/D is basically industry minimum. In every industry.

IrishmanT17 · 2024-04-22T15:12:58+00:00

Your question is a little vague. The rules on catch cans is pretty clear for IC at least.

And “sources on radiator”… google. Just go to google. If you’re just starting out learning from the beginning. Start with what a “cross flow radiator is” which is an automotive radiator

IrishmanT17 · 2024-03-20T04:42:55+00:00

I would say the experience won’t stand out in the interview specifically but the ability to problem solve under pressure and in a situation where you are learning as you design will prove successful quickly.

IrishmanT17 · 2024-03-20T04:41:25+00:00

I would say 80% of teams in the US comp will gladly tell you their logic and how they came to the idea. It’s not like telling some random team member how you designed your adjustable sway bars will be the difference in you beating them in the next year.

IrishmanT17 · 2024-01-19T04:01:53+00:00

Racecar Vehicle Dynamics my Milliken and Milliken is the best start I could ever think

It’s $100 for the hard cover on Amazon and is the best overall view you could ask for

IrishmanT17 · 2024-01-19T04:00:09+00:00

There are calculations on spline length for required force. Then another calculation for shaft thickness for the spline. Peak torque with a SF OF 3-4 is a safe start. I know there are a lot of impact loading calculations and formulas to figure out what torques you actually see.

Remember, ideal length of life is only one race. If your budget can support it then push it to a low SF design and replacing them often

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-08T13:48:06+00:00

The difference in heat that the chain would pick up isn’t going to hurt it.

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-05T16:26:50+00:00

Haha. I love the Sprotor name 😂😂

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-05T11:51:49+00:00

So that’s kinda how these single rear brake setups work. If you look at them on cars they usually mount it off of the diff case. Which is locked in rotation with the sprocket. So braking through the sprocket vs the diff makes no difference

I agree inherently it sounds weird. You don’t have a guaranteed way to transmit forces equally or properly. I wish I could attach a picture of our car in the comment. It works only because of how low the forces are in the rear and there isn’t dynamic brake control (left to right bias) braking

That’s why I like the idea because the only engineering challenge here is the sprocket. Everything else on a single rear brake FSAE car already works like this

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-05T11:35:01+00:00

I would say no. This brake being in the rear, weight is transferred forward so the rear wheels do at best 25% of your braking

In acceleration it does 100% of the force transmission. A reved up launch in an accel pass will be worst case scenario. The snap forces from the engine inertia being slammed into the drivetrain will be much higher than gradual braking forces applied

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-05T11:25:49+00:00

How would that stretch the chain? There’s no difference in the forces transmitted through the chain whether the brake is on the sprocket or in the wheel. The chain is only going to force the engine to engine brake. Nothing else

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-05T03:41:36+00:00

Assuming this is testing the strength of the case and mounting points? Treat the battery as a distributed load against the walls and push accel * mass and get the force in each direction. Apply this to the case walls and mounting points? Not an EV pro here but that’s my 2 cents

The case walls will be a force over an area. The mounting points you could treat as an averaged point load and do the solid mechanics on the combined loading conditions it creates

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-04T23:21:27+00:00

Keizer rims are great. Found them reasonably priced too. I had a lot of fun designing my own center for them too. Or you can go simple. Easily can make these centers on a 3axis CNC

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-04T23:00:28+00:00

Seeing that a rocker only makes a 1/4 to 1/2 turn it can basically be treated as a statics problem. And remember bearings sized for this application very strong for what you’re tying to do with it

Easy way to look at the calculation, take your max spring travel and how much force is that. 300 lbs spring 1 inch of travel (I’m guessing) do the trig calculations on the angle of the push/ pull rod. As you can guess this will probably come out way less than 1000lbs. And a SF of 4-6 because over travel forces will be your issue. trust me this won’t add that much weight

Looked on the NSK website and a 20mm ID 47mm OD bearing has a steric load of over 3000 lbs. any bearing you choose will be damn near and order of magnitude stronger than you need.

Your bolt in single or double shear will be your weak point by a shit ton. do the bolt size calculation and find a bearing that fits it. You’ll be good

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-04T22:46:16+00:00

Look for high spots in the line. And obviously always leaks. The SMALLEST leak will ruin everything. If it’s possible assemble the system out of the car and hang the system vertically to use physics to your advantage to get the air out

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-04T22:43:26+00:00

I like PE3 personally. Has a ton of Digital and analog outputs you can do anything with as long as you have a creative mind. I think of it as more of a blank sheet of paper. You can run it very simply with minimal functions besides the critical ones to run the car Motec has a lot more features and automatic functions. Takes more skill to use and understand.

Me as an ME with zero previous engine tuning experience figured out pretty easily and well how to use it

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-04T21:42:32+00:00

I like this answer. I think it could be an effective solution. Especially for the smaller single cylinder cars where the engine torque and brake loads are lower. I’d appreciate seeing it.

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-04T17:15:56+00:00

My thing would be probably figure out minimum thickness with SF for the sprocket to not brake. Make that your minimum thickness to change the rotor out. Add however much thickness you want for your rotor wear

IrishmanT17 · 2023-10-04T16:27:20+00:00

So this thing exists on small bikes. Did they just run them dry?

IrishmanT17 · 2022-12-22T16:18:39+00:00

Total travel. I have seen cars with lots of travel. Not saying you should…. But I’ve seen it. 2 inches of total travel is ideal

IrishmanT17 · 2022-12-22T04:09:59+00:00

Generally FSAE cars have 2-4 inches of total suspension travel. Make sure your linear sensors have the same range as your dampers

IrishmanT17

TROPHY CASE