AERODYNAMICS.
Less Drag, More Brag
The Aerodynamics subsystem designs, develops, and manufactures aerodynamic components ranging from wings, undertrays, endplates, to essential bodywork such as the nose of the car. Developing all of these crucial components of the car is easily broken down into three steps: Design, Validation, and Manufacturing.
- Designing: Members model components in a computer aided design (CAD) software in order to develop a theoretical version of the car before anything is manufactured.
- Validation: We run computational fluid dynamic simulations of our models in order to manage and optimize airflow to suit our cars and drivers’ needs.
- Manufacturing: Creating carbon fiber components, called a carbon fiber layup, begins with the creation of wood molds of components, which are machined by members on a wood CNC router. We then take these molds and layup carbon fiber, often layered with kevlar, to form a component. We then create a vacuum seal around the component and cure the epoxy within the carbon utilizing an oven.
Through these methods, we are able to develop components with high levels of precision while minimizing weight. By managing the forces that airflow creates along the car and employing aerodynamic effects such as the ground effect, the Aerodynamics subsystem can achieve a dramatic increase in control, stability, and cornering speed of the car, thereby allowing for a more competitive and controllable experience for our drivers!
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Join Aero Today!
Subsystem Lead: Jack Betz
Email: jack.betz@mines.edu
If interested in attending weekly meetings, please reach out to our Aero Subsystem Lead!