Newsletter NovaBike December 2010

NewsletterNovaBike Racing Team Delft

24th of December 2010

Last month, a lot has been done at NovaBike! NovaBike 01 was to be viewed at the Motor Event Hardenberg. Furthermore, NovaBike 01 has been on a visit at HGS Exhaust Systems for a dyno run an a new exhaust system.

In this newsletter you can also find articles about the KTM engine, the composite test for the footsteps and the race calendar for 2011, as well as an update of the NovaBike 02 progress and a small course by a team member.

We want to thank all sponsors for the Financial, material and immaterial support. Furthermore, we wish everyone a successful and ‘green’ 2011!

Follow NovaBike also on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Motor Event Hardenberg: Big success

NovaBike 01 was from Friday the 26th until Sunday the 28th of November to be found on Motor Event Hardenberg. We weren’t unnoticed; with our exceptional motorcycle, professional stand and fluent (scientific) conversations we managed to fascinate many visitors. We also weren’t unheard since the engine was started regularly. Extra thanks for the event hall at Hardenberg, AA Artificial Turf for the lifelike grass and Smits Light & Sound for the professional lighting and truss construction.

NovaBike 01 dynotest at HGS: extra HP’s included

NovaBike 01 is recently been on a visit at HGS Exhaust Systems. On the dyno, NovaBike 01 could show wat he was capable of. The one cylinder engine provided lots of power. The professionals at HGS managed to increase the power output with 3 HP by installing a custom-made, stainless steel exhaust system. They delivered a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Many thanks HGS Exhaust Systems!

Newsletter NovaBike December 2010

KTM 690 DUKE R engine

We are proud to announce that we have had a preferential treatment by KTM; soon a KTM 690 DUKE R engine will be delivered at our workshop, knowing that the motorcycle this engine comes form is sold-out at numerous dealers... The new engine has a cylinder capacity of 690 cc, 36 cc more than the KTM engine of NovaBike 01. This engine provides 70 HP (on regular petrol) We are going to make this engine much more powerful by converting it to bio-ethanol, installing an inlet system with variable runner, a custom-made exhaust system by HGS and self built Electronics.

Composite test: Sandwich panel vs. Carbon tube

In order to save weight, the footsteps of NovaBike 02 will be made of composite material instead of aluminium or steel. We have done extensive research in order to determine which material was most suitable; sandwich panel of carbon tube? The sandwich test panel of high-tech foam, carbon and Kevlar was produced (using a vacuum) at the faculty of Aerospace Engineering (photo on the left) This panel could handle much force but was not stiff enough against torsion. The carbon tube footsteps were tested by means of a computer simulation (photo on the right) The carbon tube came up with all our requirements and is therefore chosen as main footstep material. The carbon tubes will be sponsored by Prince Fibre Tech.

KNMV NK Supermono Races 2011

The race calendar for 2011 is released! In 2011, NovaBike will be racing on the following racetracks;

Assen (The Netherlands)

Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)

Oss (The Netherlands)

Most (The Czech Republic)

Oschersleben (Germany)

The First races will take place during the weekend of the 2nd and 3th of April 2011 at Assen circuit. We are looking forward to it! All race dates will be on our website soon.

Newsletter NovaBike December 2010

Update progress NovaBike 02

Hardware: After determining the geometry of the frame, the

material selection (Reynolds 631 cold-drawn steel tube) and practical research for production methods and practical experience at Nico Bakker Frame Construction, large leaps have been made in the frame design. First, a PVC mock-up was produced in order to make practical problems visible. With those insights, a 3D design was made using Autodesk Inventor. By means of a computer analysis of forces and stresses, the required wall thicknesses to come up with certain requirements have been determined. These requirements were determined making use of (scientific) research and measurements done by Vittore Cossalter & John Bradley.

The frame and rear-axle design were approved after extensive analysis. Therefore, the focus shifted to the production of a suitable welding mould and the final production of the frame.

Besides the optimised air inlet and fastening points, this frame design reduces the total weight of NovaBike 02 with an estimated 6 to 7 kg in relation to the frame and rear-axle of NovaBike 01. Many thanks to Nico Bakker Frame Construction for the help and practical tips and to Stefan Meijer from Bitubo Race Service for his amazing effort during the crucial design of the link system and the providing of the suspension system next year.

Engine: The air intake, air box and variable runner are designed. Various methods to achieve a

higher compression ratio are examined. Also, the use of a different camshaft and the ‘flowing’ (smoothening) of the piston head is being considered.

Newsletter NovaBike December 2010

Bodywork: The aerodynamic bodywork is

completely designed and the First milling piece (seat and tank) is produced. The remaining parts of the bodywork will follow soon. These parts have to be processed to a smooth plug (positive), from which we can make moulds (negative) In these moulds, we can finally laminate the carbon fibre to become the bodywork. NovaBike 02 is going to look astonishing.

Team member: Eline

I am Eline, a third year Aerospace Engineering student. Because I like to put my theoretical study knowledge into reality, I’m active in student projects. Last year, I worked at DUT Racing where I’ve gathered a lot of teamwork experience. This year, I am working on the design of the powertrain of NovaBike 02. I’m helping in the development of the air intake system for example. For this system, we are designing a very interesting component, a variable runner.

Wat is a runner exactly? A runner is the part of the inlet system which is situated between the throttle body and the bell mouth (which ends in the air box) Why ‘variable’? The inlet valve of the engine is open and the air flows inwards, then the valve closes and the air bounces against the valve. This causes a pressure wave to bounce back into the air box. Inside the air box, a relatively high pressure is present which forces the pressure wave back into the runner. If the inlet valve is open the moment the pressure wave has returned, we get pressurised air inside the cylinder. The time it takes for the pressure wave to return is dependent on the runner length. The moment the inlet valve opens is dependent on the engine speed. So, in order to become pressurised air inside the cylinder at a wide range of engine speeds, we have developed a system which makes the runner length variable. Due to this system, we have a engine ‘boost’ over a wide ‘rpm’ range.

The next newsletter will appear on Friday the 4th of februari 2011.

Newsletter NovaBike December 2010

Our sponsors

For information and sponsorship you can contact Steven van ‘t Klooster, Joeri van Eck en Wolf Cavens via info@novabike.nl