Composite Solutions for Structural Reinforcement

There is an interest in exploring the feasibility of carbon fiber sandwich panels as a solution for structural reinforcement. The approach would be to apply sandwich panels across the longitudinal planes of the Chassis. Baseline comparison (for any criteria of time, cost, manufacturability, labour, etc.) would be with sheet metal in place of proposed carbon fiber sandwich panels.

Potential longitudinal bulkheads to help replicate what the structural Bottom Panel was intended to provide (load distribution across multiple tubes and overall stiffness of the vehicle).

For panels on top of the catamaran tubes, maximum 1 inch of panels can be added or else egress is impossible.
- Specifics aren’t fully validated, but know that this is a constraint for this project.
- Ask Renzo who is Catamaran Cover guy
May need to weld tubes or tabs onto the Chassis to provide adhesive surfaces
- would need to do some analysis to ensure that the bonding area available will provide a structural joint for the sandwich panel solution to remain on.
- would need to do some iterations of simulations to find out how many extra bonding area is required.
For sheet metal (if it seems to be the more optimal solution), you would need to outline where welding will occur and if fasteners will be required.

Start with neglecting any interference - can give you picture of relative strength b/n sheet metal and cf