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A vehicle-level data acquisition (DAQ) system was developed and implemented on the Lawrence Technological University (LTU) Baja SAE vehicle. This low-cost Arduino-based DAQ system is capable of accurately and repeatedly measuring Baja SAE specific vehicle parameters and storing them for offline analysis. While expandable for the needs of future teams, the developed DAQ system includes measurement of vehicle wheel speed, CVT pulley speeds, suspension position, CVT belt temperature, steering load, and steering angle. The development of the DAQ system architecture and the development of the angular speed and suspension position measurement subsystems are the focus of this work. The processes followed and lessons learned can be used by other Baja SAE and SAE Collegiate Design Series. Each measurement subsystem was designed, fabricated, integrated, and validated on the bench and in-vehicle.

Mechanical engineering students at Lawrence Technological University complete a five-credit hour capstone project: either an SAE collegiate design series (CDS) vehicle or an industry-sponsored project (ISP). Students who select the SAE CDS option enroll in a three-semester, three-course sequence. Each team of seniors designs, builds, and competes with their vehicle at one of the SAE CDS events. Three years after implementing major changes to the course structure and content, the three-semester capstone design sequence is revisited. Finalized learning objectives are presented and the sequence is assessed with a mix of direct, indirect, and anecdotal assessment. Student performance, as measured directly with design reports, milestones, and project completion, is good. Of the five Lawrence Tech CDS teams, only one has failed to be ready for competition since the changes were implemented.

In response to the need for lightweight design in industries, composite materials are increasingly used to replace traditional metal tubes. However, subsurface defects such as voids, delaminations, and microcracks are still remaining common issues in composite pressure tubes. This paper introduces an application of Digital Shearography method in the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of high-pressure composite tubes. A new prototype high-pressure composite tube with a working pressure of 1000 psi range is tested using the digital Shearography method. To detect the sub-surface defects, a reference Shearographic phase map is created at 0 psi state, after that the composite tube is pressured using an oil pump, then the second Shearographic phase map is created at the pressured state. By subtracting the two shearographic phase maps created in different pressure state, the sub-surface defects can be identified clearly. The Shearographic NDT result is then compared with CT scan result.

AASHTO I-Beam is a standard structural concrete part for bridge sections. The flexural performance of an AASHTO I-Beam is critical for bridge design. This paper presents an application of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) Method in full-scale AASHTO I-Beam flexural performance study. A full-scale AASHTO I-Beam pre-stressed with steel strands is tested by three-point bending method. The full-scale AASHTO I-Beam is first loaded from 0 kips to 100 kips and is then released from 100 kips to 0 kips. A dual-camera 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system is used to measure the deflection and strain distribution during the testing. From the DIC results, the micro-crack generation progress during the loading progress can be observed clearly from the measured DIC strain map. To enable such a large-scale DIC measurement, the used DIC setup is optimized in terms of the optical imaging system and speckle pattern size.

The initiative of this paper is focused on improving the heat dissipation from the pressure wheel of a laser welding assembly in order to achieve a longer period of use. The work examines the effects of different geometrical designs on the thermal performance of pressure wheel assembly during a period of cooling time. Three disc designs were manufactured for testing: Design 1 – a plain wheel, Design 2 – a pierced wheel, and Design 3 – a wheel with ventilating vanes. All of the wheels were made of carbon steel. The transient thermal reaction were compared. The experimental results indicate that the ventilated wheel cools down faster with the convection in the ventilated channels, while the solid plain wheel continues to possess higher temperatures. A comparison among the three different designs indicates that the Design 3 has the best cooling performance.

The American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. driveline dynamometer provides immense value for experimental validation of product NVH performances. It has been intensively used to evaluate product design robustness in terms of build variations, mileage accumulation, and temperature sensitivity. The current driveline dynamometer input motor system has multiple torsional modes which create strong coupling with test part gear mesh dynamics. Mechanical Engineering seniors at Lawrence Technological University designed, fabricated, and validated a mechanism to decouple the driveline dynamics from the driveline dynamometer dynamics. The student-designed decoupler mechanism is presented with experimental validation of effectiveness in decoupling driveline dynamometer dynamics from the driveline under test.

In this study, a new nonlinear correlation between Brinell hardness and ultimate tensile strength is proposed. The correlation factor in this case is higher than that found in the current literature. The ultimate tensile strength is replaced by an equivalent hardness expression in the Modified Universal Slopes Method. This change results in fatigue parameters that are predicted using hardness, true fracture ductility, and modulus of elasticity. This new fatigue life prediction approach is compared with the original Modified Universal Slopes method and experimental data in literature. This method is valid for steel with hardness that ranges from 150HB to 660HB. The results show that this method provides better approximations of the strain-life curves when compared with the Modified Universal Slopes and experimental data.

A new inter-disciplinary degree program has been developed at Lawrence Technological University: the Master of Science in Mechatronic Systems Engineering Degree (MS/MSE). It is one of a few MS-programs in mechatronics in the U.S.A. today. This inter-disciplinary program reflects the main areas of ground vehicle mechatronic systems and robotics. This paper presents areas of scientific and technological principles which the Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Math and Computer Science Departments bring to Mechatronic Systems Engineering and the new degree program. New foundations that make the basis for the program are discussed. One of the biggest challenges was developing foundations for mechanical engineering in mechatronic systems design and teaching them to engineers who have different professional backgrounds. The authors first developed new approaches and principles to designing mechanical subsystems as components of mechatronic systems.

Chromium Molybdenum Steel (AISI 4130), commonly referred to as “Chrome Moly”, is one of the most popular materials used in the construction of tubular space frames and chassis components for racing applications. Its high strength, light weight and comparably low material cost make the reasons for its popularity quite obvious. However, there is one problem that is commonly overlooked: maintaining the strength component of Chrome Moly in areas exposed to high levels of heat followed by rapid cooling during welding. This paper seeks to better understand the affects of cooling due to welding on the strength of Chrome Moly tubing.

To evaluate traction and velocity performance and other operational properties of a vehicle requires data on some tire parameters including the effective rolling radius in the driven mode (no torque on a wheel), the effective radii in the drive mode (torque applied to the wheel), and also the tire longitudinal elasticity. When one evaluates vehicle performance, these parameters are extremely important for linking kinematic parameters (linear velocity and tire slip coefficient) with dynamic parameters (torque and traction net force) of a tired wheel. This paper presents an experimental method to determine the above tire parameters in laboratory facilities. The facilities include Lawrence Technological University's 4x4 vehicle dynamometer with individual control of each of the four wheels, Kistler RoaDyn® wheel force sensors that can measure three forces and three moments on a wheel, and a modern data acquisition system. The experimental data are also presented in the paper.

A low cost fault tolerant and redundant multiplex wiring system specifically designed for automotive applications is described in this paper. Although there are many multiplex wiring systems are being used to simplify the car wiring harness, but very few are low cost, fault tolerant and redundant at the same time. Most of the system address mainly the protocol and software issues and neglected the reliability of the multiplex wiring system. This paper addresses the fault tolerant and redundancy of the system and use hardware based integrated circuit to convert from parallel to serial at the transmitter side and serial to parallel at the receiver side.

This paper is an introduction to the design of suspension components for a Formula SAE car. Formula SAE is a student competition where college students conceive, design, fabricate, and compete with a small formula-style open wheel racing car. The suspension components covered in this paper include control arms, uprights, spindles, hubs, pullrods, and rockers. Key parameters in the design of these suspension components are safety, durability and weight. The 2001 Lawrence Technological University Formula SAE car will be used as an example throughout this paper.

Aerodynamic drag is the force that restricts the forward velocity of a vehicle. Sources of drag are form drag, interference drag, internal flow drag, surface friction, and induced drag. Aerodynamic drag directly impacts the fuel economy attainable by a vehicle. In the Formula SAE competition (FSAE), fuel economy is a factor during the endurance phase. This paper will focus on the effects of aerodynamic drag and how it impacts the fuel economy of a FSAE racing style vehicle. Using the Lawrence Technological University (LTU) 1999 and 2000 cars to study and evaluate various methods to reduce drag and optimize fuel economy. Theoretical and experimental methods will be used and the study will be limited to the effects of form and interference drag.

The 2000 Formula SAE Team at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) has designed a chain driven, three-piece aluminum differential unique from past years. This innovative design introduces an adjustable chain mount replacing conventional shackles. Made completely of aluminum, this device moves the entire rear drive train. The gear set remains to be limited slip with a student designed housing. The idea of an aluminum housing with manufactured gear set is a continued project at LTU. After cutting approximately 33% from the weight of the 1999 differential, the 2000 is geared toward a simpler, and smaller design, easier assembly and lighter weight. After reading this brief overview, the idea of this paper is to provide an understanding of the reasoning behind the choices made on the LTU driveline team. FIGURE 1

Aerodynamics plays an important role in the dynamic behavior of a vehicle. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate external and internal aerodynamics of the 1999 and 2000 Lawrence Technological University Formula SAE vehicles. The external aerodynamic study will be limited to form and interference drag and the evaluation of lift. The internal aerodynamics study will be limited to ram air to the intake, heat exchanger, and oil cooler.

Traction control is an electronic means of reducing the wheel spin caused by the application of excessive power for the valuable grip. Wheel spin can result in loss control of the car, reduce acceleration and cause tire wear. In the front wheel tire the loss grip is experienced as underwater, where the front of the car ‘pushes’ forward, not turning as much as the driver has exposed by turning the tearing. In the rear wheels slip causing oversteer, where the rear of the car swings around, turning much sharper than the driver anticipated. The result of all these problems is that the driver starts loosing control of the vehicle, which is undesirable. With the new design of the Traction Control System, the amount of the wheel slippage is precisely controlled. In racing, this means corner can be taken constantly quicker, with system applying the maximum power possible while the driver remains in total control.

The 1999 Lawrence Technological University (LTU) drive train consists of a sprocket and chain assembly that delivers the torque, developed by a 600cc Honda F3 engine, to the rear wheels. The torque is transferred through a limited-slip, torque sensing differential unit comprised of a gear set in a student designed housing. The 1999 differential is a second-generation aluminum housing. The idea of using aluminum was first attempted with the 1998 team who successfully completed and used aluminum despite much complexity and a few design flaws. Therefore, in the LTU Formula Team's continuing effort to optimize the design, a new less complex design was conceived to house the gear set. This innovative design reduces the number of housing components from three in 1998, to two in 1999.

Lawrence Technological University's 1998 SAE Formula car needed a high performance differential assembly. The performance requirements of a competitive SAE Formula car differential are as follows: Torque sensing capabilities Perfect reliability High strength Low mass Ability to withstand inertia and shock loading Small package Leak proof housing Ability to support numerous components With these requirements in mind an existing differential was selected with the capability for torque sensing. This differential lacked the desired low mass, support, internal drive splines, and proper gearing protection. The differential was re-engineered to remedy the deficiencies. The internal gearing from the selected differential was used in an improved casing. This casing and it's position in the car, reduce the number of side-specific parts required as well as improving the performance. The new design significantly reduces the size and mass of the assembly.

A unique differential assembly was needed for the Lawrence Technological University (LTU) SAE Formula race car. Specifically, a differential was required that had torque sensing capabilities, perfect reliability, high strength, light weight, the ability to withstand inertia and shock loading, a small package, no leaks, the ability to support numerous components. In that regard, an existing differential was selected that had the torque sensing capabilities, but had deficiencies that needed to be fixed. Those deficiencies included the following: Differential unit was over 4 kg unmounted, with no housing. This was considered too heavy, when housed properly. Bearing surface was provided on only one end of the carrier. This design provides insufficient bearing surface to support either the differential housing or half-shafts The internal drive splines integral to the case are not optimized for a perpendicular drive/axle arrangement, such as, a chain drive.