Formula Student Team Delft
Newsletter
November edition
Formula Student Team Delft
2
Team update
Interview
Formula Student Team Delft
Dear reader,
A
lot has happened since the last newsletter! Everybody started designing and the DUT15 is taking shape very quickly now. The review for the preliminary design has been done and all our engineers are working hard to improve their parts for the second and final design review. In this November edition we’ll give you the latest news in the team update. Next, another interview was held, this time with the fastest kart driver in our team: Konstantine. We continue with
Sneak Preview
a sneak preview of the DUT15! Finally, some results of the photoshoot with Worcflow are shown. Enjoy reading the second edition of this newsletter and we hope to see you at our Design Presentation!
Kind regards, Stijn Pennings Team manager
Worcflow
3
Formula Student Team Delft
Team update
Everyone is working hard to finish before the deadlines.
Design marathon With a tight planning and only one month till the public design presentation, our engineers are pushed to the limits. That is why a design marathon was organized. During this marathon weekend, the team prepared for their next review deadline. This event did not only include hard working, but also support of Dutch bitterballs and other snacks. After all, a well-fed engineer is a productive engineer.
4
Team update
Interview
Formula Student Team Delft
Flying through the super chicane.
Kart outing For a good result in the Formula Student competitions it is not only important to have a flawless race car design, but also to have a suitable driver. Therefore, the team members had a chance to show that they have what it takes to be a Formula Student driver. That is, the first kart outing of this season took place in Dordrecht.
The competition was strong, for there was a lot at stake, of course. However, next to the healthy rivalry stood a lot of fun.
Sneak Preview
Worcflow
At the end of the day, there could be only one winner. The engineer with the fastest lap time turned out to be Konstantine. You can find an interview with him on page 8.
5
Formula Student Team Delft
Joost Heijink fine tuning the DRS.
Wind tunnel test A wind tunnel test was performed at the Open Jet Facility of the Delft University of Technology aerospace engineering faculty. The dynamic performance of a Drag Reduction System (DRS) was tested, since it is extremely difficult to predict how the airflow will react when this system is actuated, particularly the time it takes for the flow to reattach. For this, the rear wing of the DUT14 was modified such that it was able to pivot.
6
Team update
Interview
Formula Student Team Delft
Vehicle Dynamics department meeting.
Design review It is crucial that progress in every design is reflected, before finalizing it. For this, every engineer pesents to their department how far they have come, what they have been struggling with and what solutions they have found. Moreover, alumni with valuable suggestions and advice were present.
It is now up to the engineers to process all the given feedback and finish their detailed design before the design presentation. Find out whether they made it on December the 18th at 19.30 in the Delft University of Technology Aula, where the design presentation of the DUT15 will be held.
Chassis department meeting. Sneak Preview
Worcflow
7
Formula Student Team Delft
Interview: Konstantine Cheishvili
W
hile the wintry temperature decline is unequivocal, the team’s competitive spirit has fired up during the recent go-kart outing. The primary purpose of the event was for it to be a fun prospect after the completion of the labor-intensive design version 1. Secondly, the gokart outing was also aimed to gain insight in driver skills of the team members. With this in mind, excessive tire squealing, tight cornering and aggressive handling were inevitable. In this edition, we will reflect on this racing madness with Konstantine Cheishvili; the fastest team member at the event. Konstantine, who is of Georgian descent, has previously studied in Germany and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Delft. Within the chassis department, Konstantine is responsible for the design of the crash nose. But how did Konstantine end up at FS Team Delft? In fact, it was the prospect of potentially driving the DUT15 car which drew Konstantine to the team. Konstantine: “When I started my studies here in Delft, and I found out about this team, I immediately applied.” Konstantine’s passion for fast cars is
8
Team update
immediately noticeable; when still living in Georgia, Konstantine found great enjoyment in go-karting. With friends, he would go go-karting twice a month, getting a hang for the sport. Sequentially, Konstantine started to following Formula One competitions on television. Konstantine: “I always watch all qualification sessions and competitions; I occasionally miss a practice session.” His decision to complete a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, specializing in Aerodynamics, mainly follows from this passion for race cars. Reflecting on the go-kart outing, Konstantine hesitatingly tells us that his best lap time was 32.84 seconds. Konstantine: “Somehow, I always think I could do even better. I think I could do it in 32 seconds, maybe.” Perhaps Konstantine hasn’t realized how significant his achievement is, finishing 0.2 seconds before number two; no one less than Guido, one of last year’s drivers. It becomes clear how serious Konstantine takes go-karting. Konstantine: “You don’t just win. It takes practice, you need to be fit, you need to aim for first place, and you need to be patient.” On the last point,
Interview
Formula Student Team Delft
Konstantine elaborates: “You need to try different tactics because each track is different. For the first laps, I tried to drive with maximum throttle, but I didn’t set a good time because the car would slip in corners. I noticed that if I lifted a bit and pushed hard in the corners, I set better lap times than if I drove with full power the whole time.”
Konstantine admits that he asked others how he should drive the track. Konstantine: “But it’s very personal. Where to lift off depends on how heavy you are, which go-kart you’re driving and how it feels. Of course you should drive as aggressively as possible. You should know that you’ll crash, and you should be okay with it. If you aren’t, it won’t work. You need to trust the car and the tires.” It comes to no surprise that Konstantine secretly aspires to drive the DUT15 to victory. Jokingly, Konstantine lets us know that he wants a private go-kart track once he has gained enough wealth. Rally cars are nothing for him, “a gokart is more intense, its open; you can push them more than normal cars.” We wish Konstantine the best with all of his endeavors. With anticipation, we will follow the DUT15 driver selection, to see if Konstantine’s name will adorn the list. Lastly, we ask of Konstantine to remember us once he has realized his dream of building a private go-kart track.
Mario Verhagen
Konstantine Cheishvili
Sneak Preview
Worcflow
9
Formula Student Team Delft
Sneak preview: DUT15
H
ere it is! The very first glance of the DUT15!
Are you curious about the complete design of the DUT15? Come the 18th of December to the design presentation at 19:30 in the Aula of the TU Delft. In the presentation the DUT15 design is explained. Afterwards this milestone is celebrated with a drink. Please subscribe here!
10
Team update
Interview
Formula Student Team Delft
Sneak Preview
Worcflow
11
Formula Student Team Delft
Worcflow photoshoot
I
n the first weekend of November, a photoshoot of the DUT14 car took place at the former Valkenburg Air Base. Core Team members of DUT14, as well as some DUT15 members assisted in the photoshoot, in conjunction with Worcflow. Goal of the photoshoot was to gather beautiful pictures of the car. Once processed, the photos can be used for professional purposes, such as posters, presentations, or for other promotional material. Initially, it was the intention to photograph a ‘simulated test’ setting, whereby team members would act
12
Team update
Interview
Formula Student Team Delft
as if performing some test. Coincidentally, a telemetry test needed to be performed for the sensor system of the DUT15, giving the photographers the possibility to photograph a ‘real’ test taking place. The photoshoot took place in three batches. Initially, action photos were taken of the DUT14 as it performed numerous runs on a defined track. Next, the team was photographed as they performed work on the car. With the low wintery sun, the final photos were taken of the car in the forefront of a multicolored sky. Even after the sun had set, impressive photos were
taken of the DUT14 in semidarkness, being illuminated softly by the clinically white light of the hangar light posts. While incredibly cold, the day had proven ideal for the photoshoot; continuously
sunny conditions and a stunning sunset. With the expertise of Worcflow and the assistance of the various former and current FS Team Delft members, the session can be considered an all-round success.
For more information, about Worcflow, please visit www.worcflow.nl
Sneak Preview
Worcflow
13
Formula Student Team Delft
a d va n c e d
14
lightweight engineering
Team update
Interview
Formula Student Team Delft
Sneak Preview
Worcflow
15
Formula Student Team Delft
General info Contact details Department
Phone number
Address
Electronics & Powertrain Suspension & Vehicle Dynamics Chassis & Aerodynamics Team Manager & Chief Engineer Operations Manager & Technical-Finance Manager
+31 152 787 008 +31 152 788 436 +31 152 787 007 +31 152 788 891 +31 152 787 531
Stevinweg 1 2628 CN Delft The Netherlands
Important date 18th of December at 19.30 Design presentation at the Delft University of Technology Aula
Next edition
Design Presentation Special Social
www.FSTeamDelft.nl info@dutracing.nl
16