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SPARTAN POWER

  • Magazine Article
  • 17MOMP11_03
Published November 01, 2017 by SAE International in United States
Language:
  • English

Concentration on new engine helps propel San Jose State to success at 2017 Formula SAE Michigan competition.

San Jose State University's Spartan Racing entry into the 2017 Michigan and Lincoln Formula SAE competitions marks the teams ninth consecutive year of competition. Leading up to the 2017 season, Spartan Racing has achieved a 1st place in every dynamic event. The biggest achievement came in 2015 when the team won overall at the Lincoln competition. Since then the team has been working hard to continue improving with the objective of winning another competition.

The 2017 season began with a review of the vehicle and team's performance from the following season. A competition points analysis was developed to assess the weights each dynamic event carried after the new points breakdown for FSAE 2017. Endurance and autocross events carried higher sensitivities due to the point deviations between contenders as well as the total event value. To identify improvements in vehicle performance for dynamic events, a lap time simulation was employed using MATLAB. The simulation parameters included, but were not limited to, vehicle dimensions, mass placement, suspension stiffness, final drive ratios, engine output, aerodynamic distribution and loads. The results from the simulations help the team set specific requirements for all the vehicle systems.