Momentum - September 2021 - 15

STUDENT GENERATION
Refinement of the suspension system was an important focus for Iowa
State University's Cyclone Off-Road Racing team.
refining and improving the existing systems, " Iowa State's
Cyclone Off-Road Racing team captain Brandon Lochner told
MOMENTUM. " The rear suspension was changed to save
weight and allow us to better tune the springs and damper.
The front suspension saw a few key changes to increase
durability and strength. The main work on the suspension
system this year lied within the damper and coil-over system
tuning. We went through in-depth theoretical modeling and
backed that up with testing and refining the system to achieve
the results that allowed us to do so well in the Endurance and
Dynamic Events, finishing as the top 2wd car in the S&T
course. "
KNOWLEDGE EVENT
To participate in the Validation Events, teams had to
participate in a Knowledge Event. It consisted of three
events-within-an-event: a Sales Presentation Event, a Cost
Event, and a Design Event.
Georgia Tech's best showing was in the Knowledge
Event, finishing fourth overall and second in the Design
Event. Its best showing on the track was at Arizona, placing
sixth overall. The team finished seventh overall in Louisville
and second in the Endurance Event.
" We always begin the design for our vehicles in the
summer, " Wasiq Kabir, president of the Georgia Tech
Off-Road team at Georgia Tech told MOMENTUM. " As
a result, because we start so early, we have
the
time to do more thorough analyses. In
our design phase, we don't just do
CAD, also but perform many forms
of design and analysis such as
structural analysis with finite
element analysis (FEA) software
using real-world testing data. "
Kabir noted that there is
additional analysis based on the
sub-teams. " For example, the chassis
MOMENTUM
A view of Georgia Tech
Off-Road's full OR-6 vehicle
in CAD, from the team's
Baja SAE design report.
Members of the Georgia Tech Off-Road team with their vehicle at the Baja
Louisville Validation Event.
team goes through multiple checks and reviews to ensure that
the designed chassis is rules-compliant, as well as torsional
stiffness simulations; the suspension team is heavily involved
with calculating and adjusting suspension kinematics for
optimal performance; the drivetrain team is designing the
gears for our transfer case to maximize our vehicle's
acceleration performance, minimize weight, and avoid
component failures; and, finally, our driver controls team runs
calculations and designs brakes and steering systems that will
be comfortable for the driver, and ensure our car will always
pass the static and dynamic brake checks in competition. "
Kabir added: " This only scratches the surface of the design
and analysis our team performs. " n
Georgia Tech Off-Road
September 2021 15
Cyclone Off-Road Racing
Georgia Tech Off-Road
Momentum - September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Momentum - September 2021
