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Table of Contents
Table of Contents |
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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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