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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that using advanced powertrain technologies can help outperform the state of the art in F1 and LeMans motor racing. By a careful choice and sizing of powertrain components coupled with an optimal energy management strategy, the conflicting requirements of high-performance and high-energy savings can be achieved.

Five main steps were performed. First, definition of requirements: basic performance requirements were defined based on research on the capabilities of Formula 1 race cars. Second, drive cycle generation: a drive cycle was created using these performance requirements as well as other necessary inputs such as the track layout of Circuit de la Sarthe, the drag coefficient, the tire specifications, and the mass of the vehicle. Third, selection of technology: the drive cycle was used to model the power requirements from the powertrain components of the series-hybrid topology. Fourth, lap time sensitivity analysis: the impact of certain design decisions on lap time was determined by the lap time sensitivity analysis. Fifth, modeling and optimization: the design involved building the optimal energy management strategy and comparing the performance of different powertrain component sizings.

Five different powertrain configurations were presented, and several tradeoffs between lap time and different parameters were discussed. The results showed that the fastest achievable lap time using the proposed configurations was 3 min 9 s. It was concluded that several car and component parameters have to be improved to decrease this lap time to the required 2 min 45 s, which is required to outperform F1 on LeMans.

This research shows the capabilities of advanced hybrid powertrain components and energy management strategies in motorsports, both in terms of performance and energy savings. The important factors affecting the performance of such a hybrid race car have been highlighted.

The purpose of this paper is to implement the generative design as an optimization technique to achieve a reasonable trade-off between weight and reliability for the control arm plate of a double-wishbone suspension assembly of a Formula Student race car.

The generative design methodology is applied to develop a low-weight design alternative to a standard control arm plate design. A static stress simulation and a fatigue life study are developed to assess the response of the plate against the loading criteria and to ensure that the plate sustains the theoretically determined number of loading cycles.

The approach implemented provides a justifiable outcome for a weight-factor of safety trade-off. In addition to optimal material distribution, the generative design methodology provides several design outcomes, for different materials and fabrication techniques. This enables the selection of the best possible outcome for several structural requirements.

This technique can be used for applications with pre-defined constraints, such as packaging and loading, usually observed in load-bearing components developed in the automotive and aerospace sectors of the manufacturing industry.

Using this technique can provide an alternative design solution to long periods spent in the design phase, because of its ability to generate several possible outcomes in just a fraction of time.

The proposed research provides a means of developing optimized designs and provides techniques in which the design developed and chosen can be structurally analyzed.

The paper proposes a study of a GT2 racing car with a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tool. Results of STAR-CCM+ simulations of the flow around the car in a wind tunnel with movable ground and wheels are presented for different air speeds to assess the different contributions of pressure and shear to lift and drag over the speed range. The rear wing contributes more than 85% of the lift force and 7-8% of the drag force for this particular class of racing cars. When reference is made to the low speed drag and lift coefficients, increasing the speed from 25 to 100 m/s produces an increase of CD of more than 3% and a reduction of CL of more than 2%. The resultsuggests modifying the constant CD and CL values used in lap time simulation toolsintroducing the tabulated values to interpolate vs. the speed of the car.

A suspended wheeled mobile robot (SWMR) that consists of one or more manipulators can be exploited in various environmental conditions such as uneven surfaces. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the requirements for stable motion planning of such robotic systems to perform heavy object manipulation tasks.

First, a systematic procedure for dynamics modelling of such complicated systems for planar motion is presented and verified using ADAMS simulation software. Next, based on the new dynamic moment‐height stability (MHS) measure, the stability of such systems will be investigated using the obtained dynamics. To this end, introducing the concept of a virtual frame, the obtained model of SWMR has been employed for investigating the effect of the base suspension characteristics as well as terrain roughness on the stability of the system. Next, the stability evaluation of the system is investigated after toppling down which has been rarely addressed in the literature. In addition, using the aforementioned model, the effect of stiffness is examined after instability.

First, a systematic procedure for dynamics modelling of such complicated systems for planar motion is presented and verified using ADAMS simulation software. Next, based on the new dynamic MHS measure, the stability of such systems will be investigated using the obtained dynamics. To this end, introducing the concept of a virtual frame, the obtained model of SWMR has been employed for investigating the effect of the base suspension characteristics as well as terrain roughness on the stability of the system. Next, the stability evaluation of the system is investigated after toppling down which has been rarely addressed in the literature. In addition, using the aforementioned model, the effect of stiffness is examined after instability.

A general procedure for dynamics modelling of SWMRs is presented. To verify the obtained dynamics model, another model for the considered system has been developed by ADAMS software. Next, using the obtained dynamics, the postural stability of such systems is investigated, based on the new postural MHS measure extended for SWMRs. The obtained simulation results show that by decreasing the stiffness coefficients of suspension subsystem the stability of the system weakens.

The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the flow field structure around the race car in two cases: stationary wheel and rotating wheel. In addition, this paper also illustrates and clarifies the influence of wheel rotation on the aerodynamic characteristics around the race car.

The author uses steady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the Realizable k-ε model to study model open-wheel race car. Two cases are considered, a rotating wheel and stationary wheel.

The results obtained from the study are presented graphically, pressure, velocity distribution, the flow field structure, lift coefficient (C_l) and drag coefficient (C_d) for two cases and the significant influence of rotating case on flow field structure around wheel and aerodynamic characteristics of race car. The decreases in C_d and C_l values in the rotating case for the race car are 16.83 and 13.25 per cent, respectively, when compared to the stationary case.

Understanding the flow field structures and aerodynamic characteristics around the race car in two cases by the steady RANS equations with the Realizable k-ε turbulence model.

This paper expands upon existing sports sponsorship 'match-up' research by offering an interview-driven, empirically-grounded, 'thick' description of the decision-making processes of sports organisations in developing athlete-sponsor-team relationships. By focusing on a particular NASCAR (The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) organisation (BAM Racing), the study offers an in-depth interpretation of the sometimes 'messy' methods employed by executives in grafting an effective, synergistic match-up. The paper concludes with a discussion on the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

This chapter explores how power obtained from societal hierarchies of gender, race, and economic status is covertly used by individuals within relationships, further maintaining systems of stratification. The case of marriage is used to examine how social stratification translates into and is reinforced within even the most intimate relationships in terms of control over decision making. Analysis of in-depth interviews with black and white wives in same-race and interracial marriages illustrates how economic inequality affects who makes what decisions within marriage and how race affects what decisions are made. In the midst of income and racial inequality, socialized gender roles dictate which spouse controls certain arenas versus others. Gender norms operate covertly to affect decision making dynamics through mechanisms of availability, areas of knowledge, and preference.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how and why outsiders, rather than incumbents, are able to take advantage of technological discontinuities.

The paper employs a case study of a single innovation that transformed the technology of Formula 1 motor racing.

The findings show how social capital made up of “weak ties” in the form of informal personal networks, enabled an outsider to successfully make the leap to a new technological regime.

The findings show that where new product development involves a shift to new technologies, social capital can have an important part to play.

It is widely accepted that radical innovations are often competence destroying, making it difficult for incumbents to make the transition to a new technology. The paper's findings show how the social capital of outsiders can place them at a particular advantage in utilizing new technologies.