Goal: MSXIV requires a detailed overview of the different possibilities for incorporating composites as structural components into the chassis.
Context: In MSXII, the majority of the composite use was for the aerobody. The aerobody was mounted to the chassis and was not designed to be a structurally component of the car. In essence, the aerobody and chassis systems were isolated from each other. The main advantage of this was to avoid the mistakes made with the monocoque design used in MSXI, which are detailed in other confluence pages. By having a strong, overbuilt chassis, the car had a reliable structure which is something that MSXII did very well.
The push for using composites as structural members was inspired by a few factors. At ASC 2018, the team had the opportunity to see the use of composites in other cars. There are many advantages to using composites including weight reduction, better use of space and higher strength. However, the use of these composites requires lots of knowledge and experience and a well defined schedule. In order for this to be successful, the team needs to research the various possibilities and perform materials tests to validate the reliability of the material.
| Material/Material combination | Properties | Manufacturing and forming process | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon fiber Aluminum honeycomb sandwich panels | |||
| Carbon fiber and nomex sandwich panels | |||
| Balsa core |
https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplr/fplr1574.pdf
Composites simulation resources: