MEE 599AQTopics: Race Car Fundamentals

This course aims to provide a holistic understanding of race car fundamentals. It lays out the fundamental concepts necessary for designing a race car. It primarily focuses on three critical areas of a racing vehicle: aerodynamics, composite and chassis design, and vehicle dynamics. First, it explores basic computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of performance vehicles, detailing the functionality of associated aerodynamic devices. Furthermore, it covers testing methods and the use of wind tunnels. Next, it shifts to carbon fiber materials, composite manufacturing for race car monocoques, and classical laminate theory. Finally, it addresses essential aspects of vehicle dynamics, including tire-track interaction, steady and transient cornering, and suspension kinematics.