FSAE regrets - time to catch up!

[Sweeper]

Greetings everyone,

I have been lurking here for a few months. When I was going through school, I did not have the chance to work on the FSAE team, and right now I am really regretting it. I have tackled many automotive projects in the past, both for street cars and pure race cars, including forced induction work and braking system design. I am comfortable tuning suspension systems in terms of spring rates, anti-sway bars, and damper valving.

But I feel like a fish out of water when it comes down to chassis work. In particular, calculation of camber curves, determining pick-up points and arm lengths, and analysis of crash safety for integral roll-over structures.

If any of you would point me to the best published or online resources to get me up to speed on suspension and roll cage topics, it would be much appreciated. I would like to be able to work more independently on a couple of personal projects, and I would also like to be a positive contributor on threads of this type.

thanks,
-S

 

[PTwizz]

The generally accepted authority on race car dynamics is a book entitled "Race car vehicle dynamics" by Milliken and Milliken, Published by SAE. Not cheap, but worth every penny.
I would also reccomend "Race car chassis Design and construction" by Forbes Aird, published by Motorbooks International.

Pete T.

 

[DangerousNerd]

The "To Win" series by Carrol Smith is a must for the amatuer racer. SAE bookstore has the set.

"The Racing and High Performance Tire" by Paul Haney

"Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics" by Thomas Gillespie

As mentioned by PTwizz, "Race Car Vehicle Dynamics" is a must.

Scott