Introduction

The front bulkhead (circled in red below) is one of two bulkheads present within the car. It provides structural integrity to the whole assembly and thus, must be tested to make sure that it reaches the standards we set for it to achieve.

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Tests to be used

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We will attempt to use the figure above when determining which test we would like to use. This was acquired from the ASC regulations and it outlines where the car must survive an impact. As you can see, there are many cases where it hits the front of the car. As you can imagine, trying to recreate a test that strikes the bulkhead at such an odd angle would be very difficult, if not impossible. This is why I have decided that we should just focus on the cases where it hits the car in a more simple manner such as directly from the top, directly in front, and directly beside it. We will probably want to test compressive, shear, and tensile properties.

The three testing standards that are to be used to emulate the properties that are to be tested are listed below:

• ASTM C393_Standard Test Method for Shear Strength

• ASTM D3039_Standard Test Methods for Tensile Properties

• ASTM D3410_Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Polymer Matric Composite Materials