Problem

Sidepods are an essential component of a Formula SAE race car. They help to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle, reduce turbulent airflow, and increase downforce and radiator cooling. However, designing and building sidepods that meet these requirements can be challenging.

I was tasked with designing and building sidepods for our Formula SAE race car. We needed to create a design that would optimize downforce and drag while reducing turbulent airflow. Additionally, we needed to develop a two-point contact mounting system that would securely attach the sidepods to the car.

Learn more about our project here.

Solution

To address these challenges, we utilized carbon fiber layups to fabricate the parts for the sidepods. We also used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize downforce and drag. By using CFD simulations, we were able to test different designs before building them, which saved us time and resources.

We designed the sidepods on NX, which allowed us to create a precise 3D model of the final product. This helped us ensure that our design met all of our requirements before we began fabrication.

Impact

Reduction of turbulent airflow
Increase in downforce and radiator cooling by X%

"Our new sidepod design significantly improved our car's performance on the track."

Team

Team Member #1 - Mechanical Engineer
- Oversaw the design and fabrication of the sidepods
- Utilized CFD simulations to optimize downforce and drag
Team Member #2 - Manufacturing Engineer
- Fabricated the parts for the sidepods using carbon fiber layups
- Developed a two-point contact mounting system for secure attachment to the car

Sidepods for Formula SAE Race Car