Introduction to finite element analysis
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# 2 Case study

Formula 1 motor racing is a multi-billion dollar, high technology and highly competitive professional sport. In many ways it’s at the leading edge of car design - be it aerodynamics, electronics, materials or engineering. The best drivers compete on a world stage where fractions of a second mean the difference between winning and losing.

Enormous effort goes into the design, manufacture and testing of a racing car and all its components and systems – to gain those fractions of a second. The very latest tools and equipment are used to create the engineering components – usually with a rapid turnaround time and short production cycle. A modern Formula 1 car then is an ideal example to show engineering at its best.

The case study looks at the chassis tub, which not only houses and protects the driver but is the structure to which all the major components are attached.

The clips feature extensive contributions from Lewis Butler, Red Bull’s senior structural analyst, at the time of recording, and Dr Keith Martin of The Open University.

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Video 1
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◄Contents►Next: 2.1 Modelling the tub of a Formula 1 racing car

OpenLearn - Introduction to finite element analysis
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