ASA Race Car Force Deflection Characteristics

Race car structure has been the subject of much discussion but little information. A hydraulic press has been constructed at Howe Racing to provide enough force to crush an American Speed Association (ASA) race car center-section. This facility tests under quasi-static conditions that give a force deflection characteristic of an entire center-section. The data can be used to make improvements in the strength or penetration resistance of a center section to improve driver safety. The data can also provide design guidance for energy absorbing elements that are added to the center-section. This paper describes the results of that testing and preliminary design consideration for a replaceable energy absorber.