Attachement of suspension to chassis

[FloMo]

@conceptual:

I think the reason why they are not using NiTi is because they don't need such a high amount of flexibility. As mentioned in the post before a formula one car has a wheel travel of 1/4- 1/2 inch. Together with the length of the a-arm this gives a deflection of around 1 - 2 degrees.

Furthermore the extreme elasticity of NiTi is due to a change in the cristal matrix from austenite to martensite under stress. When you take away the stress the matrix changes again from martensite to austenite. thsi change happens in a hysteresis, so the material behavior differs from one way to another. this would make it different to set-up the suspension in the optimal way. Pure titan has constand material characteristics and through this is easier to implement.

[scarbs]

In F1 few teams now use Ti as a flexure material. Most teams follow the lead from Jordan back in 94 and have them as carbon fibre, made as part of the wishbone. Ti is used mainly for the outboard attachments to house spherical bearings. Depending on the load\angularity of the inboard joint, sphericals are still often used, This tends to be on the forward legs of the rear wishbones.

The flexures themselves tend to join the chassis either flat or shaped as T-pieces.

Front Lower Wishbone. the flat blade is bolted under the monocoque, when the tub doesn't have a slot for it to slide into, then a flat plate is used to provide a more secure double shear mounting.

Front Top Wishbone. The flexures tend to mount as a T-piece bolted to the side of the chassis

Rear Top wishbone. This tends to be flexures bolted to the top of the gearbox. If the mounting is lower or the wishbone places higher loads on the forward leg, a spherical joint is mounted in a clevice, bolted to the side of the gearbox.

Rear Lower wishbone. This tends to be a spherical joint mounted in a clevice, bolted to the side of the gearbox.

Adjustments
Ride height adjustment - shims placed between the pushrod and the Ti top mounting

Camber adjustment - Nowadays tends to be new camber plates fitted between the upright and Upper wishbone\steerign arm. But this used to be a shimmed set up.

Toe adjustment - simple adjustment of steering arm

[FloMo]

Thanks a lot for this detailed information!! Helps me a lot.