Transcript

Lewis Butler

The tests that we actually carry out in the FE is representative of what we try and do on the car each season to verify its overall stiffness. And whilst this component isn’t ever tested in isolation in this manner, we know by measuring at different sections along its length how accurate the model is, and if this kind of model, basically with the assumptions that we’ve made doesn’t come out within about 5% of the tested value, then we’d probably flag it up as some kind of problem, and then re-investigate it after that.

Dr. Keith Martin, The Open University

It’s interesting that Red Bull have carried out detailed measurements of real test chassis tubs at various positions along the length-- the best form of verification. Interesting, also, that they’re disappointed if the measured values and computed results are not within 5% of each other. That’s a very satisfactory result, particularly with such a complicated part and with the non-isotropic material properties. Clearly, FEA is a very powerful simulation tool.