Cranfield University has chosen Altair as a strategic software partner for its Advanced Motorsport Engineering course. The partnership is designed to help the university teach progressive simulation techniques, using Altair software, to students who are aspiring to lead the next generation of motorsport teams.
The Advanced Motorsport Engineering MSc, led by programme director Clive Temple, is located at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, England. Cranfield students who were new to the program in autumn 2013 were first introduced to HyperWorks for engineering design when they attended the 2nd Altair UK Student Motorsport Workshop hosted by Jacquelyn Quirk, Altair Engineer at the Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
Temple said: ‘Cranfield University is working very closely with Altair where the MSc Advanced Motorsport Engineering is concerned. Altair's contribution is really benefitting the students and the academic team delivering the programme. With many points of engagement throughout the academic year, the partnership is ensuring our students are conversant with state-of-the-art software and its application.’
This year, as part of their group design project, the students at Cranfield were tasked with designing a two-seat, low-cost hydrogen-powered sports racing prototype. They presented their work on 14 May to an audience of nearly 100 engineers and prospective students. Group three won the Motor Sports Association (MSA) prize for best presentation on the day.
They went above and beyond the requirements to modify the Radical RXC chassis to accommodate their new fuel storage solution and performed structural topology optimisation on their entire space-frame chassis using Altair OptiStruct. They also used Altair’s composite modelling capabilities to design their liquid hydrogen storage tank.
Hrushikesh Abhyankar, structural analysis lecturer on the MSc Advanced Motorsports Engineering said: ‘Today, a study of design and structures is incomplete if it is not accompanied by an in-depth understanding of Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Altair's engineering software suite and their support to the MSc Advanced Motorsports Engineering students at Cranfield University has been invaluable. They have not only taken a lead in training the students, but also actively support their thesis projects. I am sure that this direct interaction and exposure to advanced design techniques will help the students to realise their potential and achieve their dreams in the challenging world of motorsports.’
