ON TRACKAnother Win for Dutton

Issue #2, August 2012 QUT Motorsport Official Newsletter

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2012 SPONSORS

Amid the flurry of O Week action and registering for the 2012 F-SAE Australasia competition, QUT Motorsport were able to celebrate Mark Dutton bringing home the QUT Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.

After being nominated by Technology Services Unit staff member, Greg Paterson, the Triple Eight race engineer invested a lot of effort into his nomination, with the help of Greg and QUT Motorsport Academic Advisor, Dennis De Pellegrin. In the lead up to the awards ceremony, Mark held question and answer sessions for engineering students passionate about motorsport. With the chance to ask one of Australia’s leading race engineers all about the industry, the students drank in as much information as they could.

During Mark’s visits to QUT Gardens Point, he kept QUT Motorsport at the top of his list for advice. Visiting the lab, he told the team different ways the car could be improved and assured the students that they were on the right track. Mark gushed about the importance of the team and how significant it is for students who are interested in entering the motorsport industry. “When I was at university, we never had a program like this and it’s such a great opportunity,” he said. “I wish it had been around when I was here.”

Up against seven other nominees, Mark was chuffed to take home the award. “I was looking at all the nominees and I didn’t think I stood a chance at all,” he said. Reading his acceptance speech, which was

scrawled on the back of a track map, Mark was down-to-Earth and highlighted the impact Formula SAE and QUT Motorsport has on the attitude of QUT engineering graduates. “QUT graduates are great and are always eager to learn more,” he said.

With a Triple Eight Racing workshop tour in the near future, the opportunities for the QUT Motorsport team to learn more from Mark are endless. QUT Motorsport would like to congratulate Mark Dutton on his achievements and extend a warm thanks to him for his on-going support of the team.

Kirsty JarrettBusiness Development ManagerQUT Motorsport

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Student Designs Explained: Aerodynamics

ON TRACK newsletter Issue #2, August 2012

This year, QUT Motorsport are expanding into the design and development of an aerodynamic package for future generations of QUTMS vehicles. By running a beam axle we can develop an aero package that is unsprung. This means the undertray is attached directly to the uprights, avoiding the suspension dampers. In a bid to ensure the full aerodynamic package can be tested, it was decided that 2012 will be a trial year with the undertray/diffuser being the only aerodynamic device that will be utilised, simplifying the design process. This leaves the team plenty of time to design and fine-tune for 2013, which will see the implementation of the full aero package. Over the last six months, the undertray has been developed using SolidWorks and ANSYS

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CFX software. Initial SolidWorks modelling predicts the undertray will weight 8.5kg, and through the use of ANSYS, it is predicted to create approximately 23.5kg of downforce. The original design requirements asked that the undertray weigh a maximum of 12kg and generate 30kg of down force at 60km/h. It will be made out of carbon fibre with a layer of Kevlar to protect the smooth surface from any damage the road may cause.

The undertray consists of two tunnels which resemble an inverted aerofoil, with inlet tunnels which are 75mm high and exit tunnels of 300mm high. ANSYS has shown this creates a lot of turbulence in the tunnels, however, a reduction in tunnel sizes would reduce the downforce. The addition of strakes will help to reduce the

turbulence and once the vehicle is in operation, we will use real world testing in order to reduce the turbulence further.

The pressure distribution below the undertray is quite significant as it shows that most of the low pressure created is acting at 49/51 distribution, front to rear of the vehicle respectively.

Overall the design is quite successful for a first year concept, however the real test will be to see how accurate CFD results are and with what percentage error they compare to real life. Japie BadenhorstAerodynamics/Bodywork Team Head QUT Motorsport

ON TRACK newsletter Issue #2, August 2012

Treasury Casino & SkillsTech Help QUT Motorsport

This bodywork render depicts the upcoming 2012 chassis with assembled bodywork pieces laid over. The material that will be chosen for it’s ease of manufacture and light weight will be ABS plastic, which will be heat-treated and vacuum formed over the manufacturing moulds, giving us the ability to produce multiple pieces, all of which will fit together exactly.

The painting of each bodywork will be completed at Speciality Paint Projects, one of our sponsors currently located on the Gold Coast, and who also completed the painting of the 2011 chassis and bodywork.

Hugh MillearChassis Team HeadQUT Motorsport

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Design Snapshot: Bodywork

QUT Motorsport members have received the boost they needed to build a racecar, with Treasury Casino generously donating to help the students afford some hands-on classes from Queensland TAFE institute, SkillsTech.

The SkillsTech classes will equip the team members with the knowledge and skills required when building a Formula-SAE car from scratch. “It’s a pretty big learning curve for even us older students, but with the SkillsTech classes, it will be easier for us all to help build the new car,” said Electrical team head, Ryan James Steindl.

The classes focus on introducing QUT Motorsport students the basics of tool handling, and advancing all the way to CNC machining and chassis building. Some first-year students have not yet had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the basics of hand skills or welding skills, after heading to university straight from high school. Aerodynamics & Bodywork team head,

Japie Badenhorst, said he has learnt a lot from his experiences with QUT Motorsport but looks forward to learning more from these classes. “I know that a lot of first year students don’t really have access to learning these practical skills and neither did I when I first started at university,” he said.

Materials Purchasing Officer, Ash Kennett, is excited that the classes will now be even more affordable for QUT Motorsport members to attend. “Queensland TAFE have already been a great help in trying to make this program as affordable as possible, “ he said. “Now with Treasury Casino donating money to help us pay for the classes, I’m excited for us all to learn more without people missing out because of money issues.”

Treasury Casino joined the QUT Motorsport family earlier this year and the team looks forward to forging great partnerships with both Treasury and Queensland TAFE, in 2012 and for the future.

ON TRACK newsletter Issue #2, August 2012

Sponsor Spotlight: Specialty Paint Projects

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Joining the team in 2010, Specialty Paint Projects have provided QUT Motorsport with much needed support and a breath of fresh air. Specialty Paint Projects owner, Des, has made sure QUT Motorsport look great on and off the track, with an impressive paint scheme for the 2010/2011 vehicle and the team’s transporting trailer.

Located on the Gold Coast, Specialty Paint Projects has being growing at a rapid pace since Des first opened the doors in 2010. Des has a passion

for all things automotive and it shows in the quality of his work. Specialising in elite and customised vehicles, Des and the team always deliver the perfect paint job.

With a brand-new car to be painted this year, QUT Motorsport are excited to see what paint scheme Des comes up with next. Technical Manager, David Lane, says he’s extremely happy to be able to keep Specialty Paint Projects on board. “Our paintwork sets us apart from the rest and

we’re just glad Des is keen to continuing supporting us.”

QUT Motorsport are looking forward to continuing a great relationship with Specialty Paint Projects, and returning to Melbourne in December with a new car and a fresh appearance.

Kirsty JarrettBusiness Development ManagerQUT Motorsport