Formula 1 style monocoque - internal structure

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silente
silente
6
Joined: 27 Nov 2010, 15:04

Formula 1 style monocoque - internal structure

Post

Hi,

i write this post to ask your help to understand some details about carbon fiber chassis (actually i think the principle is the same also for the few aluminum honeycomb chassis around today).

My doubt regards critical zones of the structure, like the ones where front suspension attachements are, the ones just in front of drivers hands and the one at the front end of the chassis, where you normally mount front nose. If you examine these zones in spaceframe chassis, you would normally have bulkheads there, to make the structure stiffer and to rexist in case of accidents.

Is something similar done also in CF chassis? what i mean is, exception made for the internal honeycomeb, which is nearly everywhere in the structure, do manufacturers also use any kind of "internal bulkhead" (maybe made out of carbon fiber or aluminum) to reinforce these critical areas, where loads (see suspension attachements, or roll hoops zones in case of accidents) can be very big?

Thanks!

marcush.
marcush.
159
Joined: 09 Mar 2004, 16:55

Re: Formula 1 style monocoque - internal structure

Post

Bulkheads are a given in Formula 1 monocoque design .these bulkheads are also cf /Honeycomb structures bonded into the structure with potentially the front and rear bulkheads and even the seat bulkhead exceptions as these are nowadays a integral part of the tub structure.But this is very much dependend on your method of monocoque construction.(top bottom halves bonded or other more advanced construction methods

silente
silente
6
Joined: 27 Nov 2010, 15:04

Re: Formula 1 style monocoque - internal structure

Post

Do you know exaclty where these bulkheads are placed? i guess one at the front of the chassis, one at the rear attachement points of front suspension, one in front of the steering wheel and one near the main roll hoop, right?

Do you know of any document about this kind of monocoque construction (also non F1 ones).

I found something about formula sae, but because of the weight problem and the very low loads applied to these cars, it seems they don't use any bulkhead exception made for the ones stated as cumpolsory by the rules.

thanks

marcush.
marcush.
159
Joined: 09 Mar 2004, 16:55

Re: Formula 1 style monocoque - internal structure

Post

Image

I think Gary Savage (ex BAR/Honda/Brawn) has published a very good summary :
http://www.speautomotive.com/SPEA_CD/SP ... f/k/K3.pdf

silente
silente
6
Joined: 27 Nov 2010, 15:04

Re: Formula 1 style monocoque - internal structure

Post

thanks for the link and for the picture. Very interesting!

Do anybody know of similar references about only honeycomb (with external alu skins) chassis?

I found some references in a book (2How to build motorcycle engined racecars") an theye were very useful; i tried to see if i could find anything more but with not big success till now.

I guess they use similar principles in chassis critical areas...

marcush.
marcush.
159
Joined: 09 Mar 2004, 16:55

Re: Formula 1 style monocoque - internal structure

Post

silente wrote:thanks for the link and for the picture. Very interesting!

Do anybody know of similar references about only honeycomb (with external alu skins) chassis?

I found some references in a book (2How to build motorcycle engined racecars") an theye were very useful; i tried to see if i could find anything more but with not big success till now.

I guess they use similar principles in chassis critical areas...
yes i have some:

http://www.keithwakeham.com/Files/ChassisDesign.pdf
http://www.hexcel.com/Resources/DataShe ... nology.pdf
http://www.saimm.co.za/Conferences/Comp ... -Cross.pdf