Wheel selection guideline for Formula Students

Chong, Shi Leei (2018) Wheel selection guideline for Formula Students. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Formula SAE-Society of Automotive Engineering is a competition for students to design an open-wheel racing car. Students are allowed to either design their own wheel or to purchase from the market. With the selection guideline of wheel, it will be more convenience for students while selecting or designing a wheel. More specifically, the guideline provides a general rule and recommendations for selection or designing of wheel rim, and thus saving more time. In this paper, research on the parameters of wheel is carried out such as on the mass optimization of wheel, material properties of wheel, and also diameter of wheel. Introduction on wheel and the concept theory related to wheel is also included in this paper for more understanding. With the research done, a Finite Element Analysis on the base model and modified wheel rims with various parameters are conducted; and the results are analysed in terms of stress distribution, displacement distribution, mass and also strength-to-weight ratio. The mass of a wheel rim contributes to the unsprung mass of vehicle which affects the performance of a vehicle significantly in terms of handling, fuel consumption and the yawing moment of inertia – resistance in changes of vehicle’s direction and rotation; while the manipulating variables are materials of wheel, diameter or size of rim, number of bolt holes and the number of spokes. With all the analysis and research done, a selection guideline of wheel rim for formula students is produced and the detailed development process of the guideline is presented in this dissertation.