Professional Documents
Culture Documents
10July201012:57
StevesBox(oftricks)
Category:PatsCorner
Thebestsuspension/steeringgeometryforthetiresyouhavechosen,foruseinalightweightFSAE/FScar,willresultinreasonablesteeringforces,
whichadrivercanmaintainforatleastanhourofnonstopdriving.TypicallyweseetheaboveaverageFSAE/FScarsatsomewherebetween411Nm
(38ft.lb.)ofsteeringeffortneededatastandstill.Ofcourse,thattorqueloadwilldropasthecarstartsrolling.
OneoftheDesignJudges(SteveLymanakaErgoMan)waskindenoughtosendalongthefollowingdata.Thisisstaticmeasuredtorquedatahe
hasacquiredovertheyearsusingaSensorDevelopmenthandwheeltorquesensor:
AutokraftMidget=6.0Nm(55inlbs)Nopowersteering,380mm(15)steeringwheel.
LolaT332=5.58.5Nm(5075inlbs)Nopowersteering,318mm(12.5")steeringwheel.
DodgeViperSRT10=4.5Nm(40inlbs)Powersteering,350mm(13.7")steeringwheel.
Lotus20=4.04.5Nm(3540inlbs)Nopowersteering,330mm(13")steeringwheel.
LolaT190=6.07.5Nm(5565inlbs)Nopowersteering,318mm(12.5")steeringwheel.
ProductioncarsfromtheautomotiveOEMshavesteeringtorquespecificationsof175Nm(130ft.lb)yieldwith240Nm(175ft.lb.)minimumultimate
strength.Resteasy,wewillNOTbetestingorrequiringyoutoachievetheselevelsofrobustnessonyourFSAE/FScar.Thesearespecificationsset
bycarmanufacturersdesignedfordealingwithunusualcustomeruse,andasprotectionfromliabilitylawsuits.
Indiscussingthesetypesofsteeringtorqueloadswithformularacecardesigners&buildersfromaroundtheworldweareallinclearagreementthat
yourFSAE/FScarshouldneverhavethesteeringshaft/steeringrackbreaknomatterhowmuchforceyourdriverputsintoit.
Forthepurposesofthisarticle,wedecidedtodeterminewhatreasonablesteeringtorquelimitsreallyare.WeinstrumentedaFSAEcarwitha
254mm(10)diametersteeringwheel,inordertoassesshowmuchpeaktorqueadrivercouldtransmittothesteeringcolumnwhileseatedinthecar.
Thisforcevariesdependingonhowfarthesteeringwheelisawayfromthedriverschest.Wetestedwitharmsfullyextended(Extended),armsatmid
reach(Mid),andthenwiththewheelheldclosetothechest(Close).Theclosertothechest,thegreaterthetorquethedriverscouldgenerate.See
thechartbelowforpeaksteeringtorqueforcesgenerated.
https://www.formulastudent.de/academy/patscorner/advicedetails/article/stevesboxoftricks/1/ 1/2
9/25/2016 FormulaStudentGermany:StevesBox(oftricks)
Alltestsubjectswiththeexceptionofonewereaveragecollegeengineeringstudentsbetweentheagesof19and23.Nobodybuildertypes
volunteeredforthetest.
MostFSAE/FScarshavethesteeringwheelpositioned300mmto450mm(12to18)awayfromthedriverschest(midspanofyourtotalforward
reach).ItisreasonabletoconcludethatanywellconstructedFSAE/FScarshouldbeabletowithstandaminimumof100135Nm(75100ft.lb.)of
torque/forceappliedatthesteeringwheelwithnosteeringsystemfailure.
Weoftenalsoseesillyundersizedwheels,similartoNintendoandotherPCgamecontrollers.YouNEVERseearealracecarwithsuchatiny
wheelandtherearereasonsforthis.
Asecondissueistheuseofcarbonfiberforsteeringwheels.Isitappropriatewithoutan
armatureofaluminum?Howisthesteeringtorquereactedintothewheelassembly?What
aboutthepotentialfractureofthewheelinanaccident,leavingrazorsharpedgestohurtthe
drivershands?Wewillfurtherdiscusstheseconcernsincomingmonths.
SteeringSystemLateral(Radial)Forces
Steeringsystemlateral(radial)forcesarerelativelysmallwhenthecarisonthetrack,running
atspeed.However,thatdoesnotrelieveyouoftheresponsibilitytomountyoursteeringwheel
&columninaworkmanshiplikefashion.Anysteeringwheel/columnshouldbeableto
withstandatleasta660N(150lb.)lateral(radial)forcewithoutfailing.
BrakingSystem
Whatpedalforceshouldyoubedesigningforundernormalontrackconditions?Thisnumbervariesaccordingtodriverpreference.Somedriverslike
apedalforceaslowas12kg(25lbs)perGofstoppingforce.Thatwouldresultinafairlysensitivebrakesystem.Otherdriverspreferabrakepedal
effortof45kg(100lbs)perGofstoppingforce(orhigher).Abrakesystemwithapedaleffortthathighmightbedifficulttomodulate,andmightnot
givethedrivertheultimatecontroloverthecarthathe(she)wouldlike.
<Backto:PatsCorner
https://www.formulastudent.de/academy/patscorner/advicedetails/article/stevesboxoftricks/1/ 2/2