Virgin Racing VR-01 Cosworth

[Richard]

A static load test would be easy to check for excessive deflection. I imagine they'd need NDT (ie ultrasonic) to detect a flaw that could have caused the front wing failure. (if it was a manufacturing failure)

NDT is not precise, and takes skilled people with time.

Hopefully others on here have more direct experience of carbon fibre testing in F1 teams ...

[marcush.]

hm.. what do you proof when putting the design loads in it? that it will hold up when you put it on the wheels?
I ´d say you can´t test it to its limit at this will inevitably shorten or end its life...
So what would make you sure it is ok?

I´d say a good proof would be to destroy part 1 and the last one from a batch by testing it to its limits .If you are able to control and have full tracability all process parameters and the materials as well you should be fine.

Of course you should use all available methods to check critical parts in a non distructive way -maybe compare loaded and unloaded ultrasonic check or CT?

[outer_bongolia]

hm.. what do you proof when putting the design loads in it? that it will hold up when you put it on the wheels?
I ´d say you can´t test it to its limit at this will inevitably shorten or end its life...
So what would make you sure it is ok?

I´d say a good proof would be to destroy part 1 and the last one from a batch by testing it to its limits .If you are able to control and have full tracability all process parameters and the materials as well you should be fine.

Of course you should use all available methods to check critical parts in a non distructive way -maybe compare loaded and unloaded ultrasonic check or CT?

How do they test against transients, especially oscillations? I wonder if it broke because of a resonant motion that got out of hand while riding the kerb or just bumps...

[marcush.]

hm.. what do you proof when putting the design loads in it? that it will hold up when you put it on the wheels?
I ´d say you can´t test it to its limit at this will inevitably shorten or end its life...
So what would make you sure it is ok?

I´d say a good proof would be to destroy part 1 and the last one from a batch by testing it to its limits .If you are able to control and have full tracability all process parameters and the materials as well you should be fine.

Of course you should use all available methods to check critical parts in a non distructive way -maybe compare loaded and unloaded ultrasonic check or CT?

How do they test against transients, especially oscillations? I wonder if it broke because of a resonant motion that got out of hand while riding the kerb or just bumps...

you can shake anything to death.
On ashaker rig you can surely find the points where the thing does not survive for a long time.
But then you will only see on track (if you are able or willing to log the vibrations you face on track ) if you ever get into these harmful oscillations.
If you would work like that a F1 car would take 3 years to make it to the track...

[Richard]

If you would work like that a F1 car would take 3 years to make it to the track...

So that's what USF1 are up to?

[horse]

Picture from today's (the 18th of Feb) test:



Wing and nosecone assembly appears to be the same "patched up" version from last week. I presume they have not had time to manufacture new parts yet. In saying that the wing may be new (can't see top of centre section), but the pillars and nosecone are definitely identical.

[Sawtooth-spike]

sorry but i have to post this

Parente loses Virgin test seat
18 February 2010

Álvaro Parente has revealed that he is no longer a test and reserve driver of the Virgin Racing team after sponsorship from a key backer fell through. Having represented the outfit at its launch in London in December, Brazilian Luiz Razia remains as the sole reserve alongside Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi.

Its just the head line that made me LOL.

Virgin Test seat, Is this something you mum and dad buy to make sure your behaving?

[Pandamasque]

Well if the official test driver is someone who tests officials, then I can guess what a virgin test seat is.

[Pedro]

Virgin VR-01 lost its wing after contact with kerb. No manufacturing/material/CFD error/weakness.

[gibells]

I wonder if they we're holding out, using the repaired front wing until they test an all new one in Barcalona?

Would make sense if you're trying to stretch the pennies.

[horse]

Virgin VR-01 lost its wing after contact with kerb. No manufacturing/material/CFD error/weakness.

Could be. This would still strike me as a design floor though, if the wing couldn't take a tap. It did look OK until the end of the straight when it failed.

I wonder if they we're holding out, using the repaired front wing until they test an all new one in Barcalona?

My impression was that they "beafed up" another spare wing. It looked to me like the wing that came off was decimated in the accident. It's this re-enforcement that leads me to believe that, for what ever reason, the original design of the wing was not adequate.

[Pedro]

Virgin VR-01 lost its wing after contact with kerb. No manufacturing/material/CFD error/weakness.

Could be. This would still strike me as a design floor though, if the wing couldn't take a tap. It did look OK until the end of the straight when it failed.

There was contact and the wing didn't sustain big pressure on the straight afterwards. It did not came apart immidiately. But it seemed to me like it was bending on the straights too much anyway (probably more purposely than incidentally).

[horse]

Just saw this on the VR-01 analysis page:

The team believe it to be the most cost effective solution, and have proved in Le Mans that such an approach is now flawed beforehand.

I probably think one of the mods might want to tidy up that typo.

[gibells]

Well if the official test driver is someone who tests officials, then I can guess what a virgin test seat is.

A Virgin Test Driver, by definition, can only drive once...

Hoohoohoo

[raceman]

A Virgin Test Driver, by definition, can only drive once...

Hoohoohoo

+1

=D>