Abstract
In this paper the design and analysis of a unique suspension for an electric Land Speed Record vehicle is discussed. First of all, LSR race layout is described; then suspension geometry and its functioning, designed keeping in mind what the specifics that the mechanism should have for this applications are, are shown. Then the shocks are dimensioned, according to the principles of race car designing. In order to evaluate the goodness of the design, and also to suggest useful indications for further development of the project, a finite element analysis of the mechanism has been performed. Special care has been dedicated, during the modeling of the mechanism, to careful reproduce the kinematics of the suspension. Static analysis has been performed applying to the structure the loads that occur when the vehicle passes over an obstacle. Force inputs acting in the system, needed for the structural analysis, have been determined in two ways. A simple analytical four degrees of freedom model has been used, in order to obtain a quick solution to use as a reference, and also to evaluate what the effects of the speed on the peak value of the forces entering the system are. Then a full vehicle model, realized using a commercial multibody software has been implemented, in order to obtain a more accurate load history of the forces acting on the suspension.
Keywords: Land Speed Record, FEA, Multibody, vehicle suspension, design.