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1. February Newsletter
After having gone dotty
prepping CR07 and CR10 we
finally torsion tested the cars.
After being loaded on to our
purpose built torsion rig the cars
were tested using Digital Image
Correlation, LVDTs and ‘Qualisys’
a motion capture system.
Torsion testing complete
The testing was successful and
now the team is going through
all the data to determine the
torsional stiffness of the two
cars. There was a slight accident
with CR10 however. The intent
with CR10 was for the testing to
be non-destructive so that we
can continue to use the car for
driver training, further on track
testing and engagement.
During the test however the left
hand side suspension rocker
gave out. This is a replaceable
part and so the car will soon be
back up and running.
Future cars will be based from
these results to produce better
handling characteristics in
future years.

2. Cardiff Racing has always been a team focused on the future. And the future is
‘light’. In the IMechE Formula Student series weight is one of the most important
factors of any competitive vehicle and reducing this factor can be key to ones
chances of success in the competition. As the team here in Cardiff Racing HQ look
towards solutions that will keep their cars competitive for years to come, the focus,
as always, has returned to the issue of weight.
This time the proposition is to innovate in the materials we use by going hybrid.
For years the material solution for our monocoque designs has been with
aluminium honeycomb, a lightweight material that has proven to be incredibly
resistant to torsional and impact loading without compromise. While this has
lended a great deal to our success in previous years, we’ve decided it’s become a
little – dated - for our liking. In other words, in our search for excellence in
engineering design we can do better. I present to you a new outlook that we will
be exploring this year – aluminium-carbon hybrid. The idea is to investigate the
possibility of reducing the thickness of the aluminium we use by replacing with
carbon fibre. In-turn this would create a honeycomb material with an aluminium
centre providing the crash structure we require and a blend of aluminium and
carbon fibre on the surface. As testing of this begins we look to reduce the weight
as significantly as possible through the use of carbon fibre, whilst efficiently
balancing cost in the process. The challenge will be to push our weight saving as far
as possible without compromising on the safety or quality of what we produce. It’s
an exciting time to be innovating; it’s an exciting time to be Cardiff Racing.
Carbon Fibre – An alternative to Aluminium?

3. New posters
With all the engagement activities that we do, we love to give out free posters
at events we attend. Here are two new designs hot off the press. Feel free to
get in touch for a copy if you would like to print some off for your workplace.

4. And our 2nd poster design:
On the 19th February, Cardiff Racing was asked
to visit a subject options evening at Whitchurch
High School. Our objective was to advise pupils
that had an interest in entering the engineering
industry and possibly inspire pupils that were
undecided. To show what Cardiff Racing is
about our 3D printer 'Ultimaker' was taken,
along with our in-house built simulator.
Teachers of the school were incredibly grateful
for the successful evening Cardiff Racing put on.
Cardiff Racing back at school

5. Back in the build room
Yes you guessed it, work just
continues on. With the Structural
Equivalency Spreadsheet due on
the 2nd of March, our chassis
team has been hard at work
crashing our new monocoque
test pieces and constructing our
new nosecone.
Elsewhere, new parts for the car
continue to be produced by the mills,
and our rear space frame is almost ready
to go off for powder coating! Our
exhaust is also now off at Zircotec being
coated, so excited to have things back
and get the car assembled.
We also raised another £100 for our
partner charity Ty Hafan on the 12th of
February.
Cardiff Racing
has also been
granted entry to
FS Italy & FS
Czech Republic
this summer,
more info to
come soon.