Simon Gardner, Force India F1
Driver safety is the most important aspect to consider in the design of any Formula One car, especially in the event of a rollover. The design of the principal roll structure for a Formula One car is strictly governed by a number of FIA regulations, and most importantly, must satisfy a static load test as described in Article 17.2 of the FIA 2011 Formula One Technical regulations:
FIA 17.2: Principal roll structure test:
A load equivalent to 50kN laterally, 60kN longitudinally in a rearward direction and 90kN vertically, must be applied to the top of the structure through a rigid flat pad which is 200mm in diameter and perpendicular to the loading axis.
The primary objective of this study is to show how Non-Linear Implicit Optimisation using RADIOSS can be employed in the detailed design of a principal roll structure. As part of this study the targets listed below must be met.
•FIA compliance
•Lightweight
•Ease of manufacture
•Compressed design time
Have a question or comment?
Post your comment/question on our user forum.