Development and optimization of an impact mitigant for formula SAE prototypes

• Grant number: 21/09827-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanics of Solids
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Leite Ribeiro
• Grantee: Pedro Bergamasco Raimundo
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The impact attenuator (IA) is one of the vital safety instruments for prototypes that participate in student formula SAE competitions since it dampens frontal impacts that the vehicle may suffer. The IA currently used by the EESC-USP team is made of imported aluminum honeycomb, which makes it expensive and time-consuming to obtain, making it impossible to carry out destructive tests and validations of the attenuator that are important for the team. Therefore, this project aims to solve the problems of the EESC-USP team through the development and validation of an AI made of carbon-epoxy with simple manufacture, independent of imported materials, and that respects all requirements of the Formula SAE rules. For project development and optimization, the prototype will be submitted to explicit dynamic simulations in the ABAQUS software in order to evaluate its performance, and, based on these analyses, a genetic algorithm using MATLAB will be applied to help obtain the best possible lamination configuration and maximize part performance. With the prototype defined and manufactured, it will be validated through quasi-static compression tests, as required by the Formula SAE rules, to ensure that it can be used by EESC-USP in competitions. (AU)