UCEM - UCEM Blog

Energus Power Solutions

12/7/2017

We would like to thank Energus Power Solutions for supporting our team.

Here is a little update on the progress made regarding battery selection.

We plan on using 62 of Energus' Li2x4PT batteries to power our accumulator. With our current configuration with these batteries, we expect a max voltage of 260V and a capacity of 20 Ah. This configuration is subject to change, but we hope to finalize the configuration soon!

A Huge Thanks to Laticrete Inc!

11/9/2017

We may not be making a concrete car, but a huge thanks to the family owned Laticrete Inc. for supporting our team!
Based locally in Bethany, CT, Laticrete Inc. engineers sustainable and efficient flooring solutions around the world.

ANSYS Simulations

10/24/2017

We have started to perform ANSYS simulations to validate our three point bend test results! This diagram gives a visual of the deflection at the mesh node.

Diagram Credits: Tyler Sundara

Make sure to check out our Facebook @UConnElectricMotorsports and our Instagram @uconnelectric!

We have begun testing!

10/10/2017

We run the perimeter shear test and the 3pt bend test in order to push the materials to their limits. These tests will help us understand how the panels will hold up in our car, both in point loads, and large area loads. With these results we will be able to determine the optimal specifications for the Aluminum Honeycomb to use for our chassis, and if additional reinforcements need to be added to ensure our drivers are safe!

Our test results so far have shown that our material can over 900 lbs of force, exceeding our initial expectations!

Updated Prototype Assemblies

9/30/2017

Here is a rendered animation of one of our more recent prototype assemblies. It is made up of real CAD models that we have designed ourselves. This animation is a fantastic way for us to visualize what our vehicle will look like before we physically build it!
Animation by: Evan Gentile

Preliminary Chassis Design

8/18/2017

Our preliminary chassis design is a combination of steel and aluminum honeycomb elements, with some reinforced polymer carbon fiber as the seat and nose cone(not shown). This chassis is still being optimized and tested using finite element analysis software to prove structural stiffness and torsional rigidity.

Currently designed for extremely easy manufacturing, complexity will undoubtedly increase as the design progresses. As it stands this chassis is looking extremely lightweight, under 50 pounds total, although that will increase with higher complexity designs.

Design and CAD credits to Arthur Vitkovskis and Brian Abedon.

Aluminum Honeycomb Samples Are In!

8/9/2017

Our Aluminum Honeycomb samples have arrived! This new material is extremely lightweight and will make an incredibly stiff chassis. UCEM is excited to become the first American electric formula team in to make an aluminum monocoque chassis!

This new material allows us to make a chassis that although weak under point loads is extremely strong and rigid under spread area loads. Just about 1 pound per square foot, this material is very lightweight, and will allow the designers of both the suspension and controls systems to have much more flexibility, as the chassis can be designed relatively independently of the suspension setup. Challenges introduced by this material include the need to design around the steel roll hoops mandated by rules as well as testing to prove structural equivalency to the standard steel spaceframe.

We are currently in the process of testing and stay tuned for updates on testing and the chassis design we have coming soon! A thanks to Plascore Inc. and Hexcel Corporation for supplying us with these samples to test with!

Welcome!

8/9/2017

Hello UCEM Followers!
UConn Electric Motorsports excited for this upcoming year and have tons to share with you! Here you’ll find weekly updates on the progress of our car design and build process. Stay updated with all your UCEM news on this blog and on our Facebook Page! We also have Twitter and Instagram pages coming soon!
-UCEM