Momentum - October 2021 - 9

STUDENT GENERATION
The computer-generated image here depicts the
front cv axle and steering geometry in association
to the suspension components for the Cyclone OffRoad
Racing team's next Baja car. " This allows us to
track relationships throughout suspension travel by
varying the driving variable, the shock length, and
analyze the other factors in the suspension system.
This is especially important for analyzing the system
with the additional complexity of 4WD. "
The 2020-2021 Cyclone Off-Road Racing team with its car, Vortex.
rules, as well as high-quality manufacturing skills by our team
leads and sponsors. Our victory gives us a large boost of
momentum for next year as we integrate 4WD.
As a newer member, it made me so proud to be a part of the
Cyclone Off-Road Racing team. My teammates have worked
extremely hard throughout the pandemic to overcome a wide
array of challenges and still build a tough, fast car, and their
victory has a heavy influence on incoming Baja SAE members
as well as myself. More specifically, the attention paid to our
suspension system is what pushed us past the finish line.
Iowa State's 2020-2021 car, which we call Vortex, is
equipped with a suspension setup that requires special
attention to properly fine-tune to our team's preferences.
Cyclone Off-Road Racing takes great pride in our suspension
design. We work from the ground up through a meticulous
process to reach an optimal design and meet our goals. Once
our requirements and goals have been established, we begin
working on our suspension geometry to develop the
fundamentals to the system.
We utilize Solidworks Design Studies to thoroughly analyze
every detail of the system throughout suspension travel. Based
on our analysis, we adjust linkage lengths, mounting locations,
and suspension styles to get closer to our goals. We go
through several iterations to optimize the design to achieve a
balance between all the variables with respect to our goals and
requirements. Once the geometry design is complete, we use
the structure to design the suspension components. The design
studies allow us to easily understand and optimize the travel in
each joint and understand the specific loading scenarios
encountered at different suspension heights.
The process we go through is time-consuming and draws
MOMENTUM
some effort from the component designs, but we gain a much
deeper understanding of the suspension system which allows us
to better design and perfect our components. Through the many
iterations in the geometry design process, our suspension leads
have an in depth understanding of what we can tune and adjust
to create an exceptionally performing vehicle. The design studies
allow us to easily analyze each joint to ensure either our
purchased or manufactured components function flawlessly as a
system to achieve the requirements and accomplish our goals.
The knowledge gained drives high quality vehicle tuning and
sets our vehicle apart from the competition.
Watching our car beat the competition puts into
perspective the importance of our detail-oriented processes.
Putting in the meticulous work during the school year results in
unforgettable memories and a sense of pride in our work that
motivates us to continue, no matter how tedious it may be. As
we begin manufacturing our next car, the memory of that
checkered flag stays in our minds, pushing us to check and
double-check every rule and measurement in pursuit of
another victory. n
This article was written for MOMENTUM by
Sophie Bastian, with help from Brandon
Lochner. Both are mechanical engineering
majors at Iowa State University. Bastian
served as media/graphics lead and Lochner
served as technical director of the 2020-2021
Cyclone Off-Road Racing team.
October 2021 9
Sophie Bastian
Rowan Putman
Momentum - October 2021

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