Design and analysis of 'eco' car chassis

Abstract

'Eco-Challenge' race cars are built for fuel efficiency which means they must be lightweight and have low frictional resistance. However they are still subjected to normal car loading such as engine and driver weight, acceleration, braking and cornering forces. The challenge is to develop a lightweight chassis that can safely withstand the required loads. In addition, the chassis must also be able to protect the driver in the event of crash. A steel space frame was chosen for the design since it is the most effective and cost efficient structure and commonly used for single seater car. FEA was used to determine the strength and rigidity of the chassis subjected to the required loads. Results showed that chassis was able to withstand the required loads with minimal deflections. © 2012 The Authors.