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System Electrical Belgium team’s Titan race automobile. Picture Credit history, all photographs: EconCore
EconCore’s (Leuven, Belgium) award-nominated recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) honeycomb material is staying harnessed by the System Electric powered Belgium workforce for the front wings and the overall undertray of their 220-kilogram (485-pound) Titan race auto, which was unveiled on May possibly 24, 2022.
Centered on recycled PET substance, the rPET honeycomb cores are created up of 100% recycled material, predominantly sourced from non-food publish-buyer and industrial PET squander streams. Giving substantial mechanical efficiency, low fat and significant temperature steadiness, EconCore says rPET is the content of choice for a assortment of applications, including motorsport.
The team of engineering learners created the front wing pores and skin out of normal flax fiber. Past yr, the workforce used carbon fiber-strengthened polymers (CFRP) for the skins of the wing profile, and essential aluminum stiffeners —similar to people uncovered in plane wings — to give them larger stiffness. However, to adapt a much more sustainable approach with no compromising on general performance, Method Electric Belgium substituted the aluminum stiffeners with rPET honeycomb to generate a sandwich panel which was both of those lighter and additional rigid.
The rPET cores were thermoformed. The Formulation Electric Belgium crew started off with continual thickness to form into the wing, making use of heated molds to press the core into condition. EconCore claims the use of its technological know-how minimized wing weight by 26% as opposed to the same-sized wing from the prior 12 months, enabling the race car to go from -100 kilometers for each hour in 2.5 seconds. The front wing part is also really rigidity, capable of withstanding forces equal to virtually 1000 situations its possess excess weight. The Titan race auto has gone through a number of tests in its numerous phases of development under a three-position bending exam, the wing was able of withstanding 46 kilograms (101 lbs .) of power.
EconCore flax wings.
Throughout the growth stages, EconCore says it opened up its doors to the Formulation Electric powered Belgium staff, enabling them to use the company’s testing equipment to evaluate the power of the product, which proved essential to the full advancement process.
“With the rPET honeycomb main, Formula Electric Belgium were being capable to make a very rigid, light-weight front wing component which weighed in at only 50 grams,” Wouter Winant, complex manager at EconCore, says. “And at the exact time this displays that obtaining best overall performance is doable with sustainable products. Our rPET honeycomb core technological know-how is accessible to be certified for a wide range of apps and Method Electric powered Belgium have completely demonstrated the material’s versatility.”
System Electric Belgium has been bringing jointly aspiring engineers from Belgium-based Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, UGent, UHasselt, UCLouvain and Thomas Far more University for the final 12 years. The program was to begin with set up to deliver engineering learners with a authentic-globe working setting to expand their complex capabilities by setting up comprehensive race automobiles each 12 months to compete in the worldwide Formulation University student competitions.
Read through: EconCore, ThermHex Waben optimize honeycomb core manufacturing
The following techniques for the race motor vehicle are to undergo tests and set up sessions prior to the very first competitive race in the Netherlands in July, followed by even further races in Hungary and Croatia in August. For the competitions on their own the Components Electric Belgium team will put their race car by means of a assortment of dynamic and static activities which they will be scored on. The dynamic situations include acceleration, skid pad, autocross and endurance, while the static occasions are price evaluation, design and style analysis and small business plan presentation. The competitors is not only about how the autos complete but also the revolutionary method that each staff has undertaken in the structure and manufacture of their vehicle.
“The rPET honeycomb core was an interesting and attention-grabbing material to perform with and the total EconCore staff ended up enthusiastic in supporting us while we utilized their facilities,” Karel Van Wambeke, aerodynamics engineer at Components Electrical Belgium, emphasizes. “We just cannot wait to put our tough operate to the take a look at and see how we perform in our initial level of competition in the Netherlands in July.”
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