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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Types Solar Car Frames

There are three main options when it comes to selecting how to give a solar car structure: space frame, unibody or monocoque. To date, all of Midnight Sun's solar cars have used a space frame chassis except for MSXI which used a monocoque. 

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A production car's unibody.A look at Stanford's unibody.

Monocoque

A monocoque is a structural system where loads are supported through an object's external skin, similar to an egg shell. MSXI used a monocoque as its frame which presented numerous challenges with regards to structure, manufacturing and serviceability. Due to these challenges, most solar car teams do not elect to use a monocoque. 

A Lamborghini Aventador has a carbon fibre central monocoque, with front and rear steel subframes.MSXI's monocoque prior to vinyl wrapping.

System Design Considerations

Impact on Suspension

Centre of Gravity and Handling

Material Considerations for Space Frames

Steel 

Strength

Torsional Rigidity

Modeling and Analysis 

Balsa Wood Models 

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