Versions Compared

Version Old Version 37 New Version 38
Changes made by

Asher L

Asher L

Saved on

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

...

Expand
  • Configuration 3 for the Trunk Prop was chosen due to its manufacturability and ease of assembly

Important to note is that due to design changes to the chassis, chassis tubes extending to the trunk area were included and these will be used as a mounting area for the brackets

This is preferable to using the bottom panel as the bottom panel is no longer structural (due to manufacturing constraints the honeycomb core was not placed between the carbon fibre plies). Mounting to the chassis tubes provides a more stable base for the trunk prop

Regular L brackets can be used in the mounting of the compressed air strut as Configuration 3 was chosen

Compressed Air Strut

As mentioned earlier McMaster-Carr Gas Struts were chosen. This was due to their: reliability, variability (many sizes to choose from) and cost

Below will be how the specific size and force of McMaster-Carr Gas strut was selected

Force

To determine the required force the gas strut must exert we must determine the mass it must hold

  • Weight of Trunk Panel itself: Maximum 9kg

  • Weight of Solar Cells and Encapsulation: Calculated via - Solar Cell Surface Density * Surface Area

    • Solar Cell Surface Density = 1000g/m2

    • Surface Area Total = 1.4770m2

    • Therefore Weight of Solar Cells and Encapsulation = 1447g or 1.447kg

  • Total Weight = 10.447 kg or 23.03 lbs