Racing car driveline design: carbon composite bonded half-shaft. (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evans, Jeremy; Bab-Hadiashar, Alireza; Watkins, Simon
• Is Part Of: International journal of vehicle design. Volume 72:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: carbon fibre composites -- bonding strength -- aluminium inserts -- composite half-shafts -- drive-shafts -- bond length -- electric racing cars -- driveline design -- electric vehicles -- composite tubing -- mass -- stiffness -- half-shaft design -- finite element analysis -- FEA -- torsional tensile testing; Motor vehicles -- Design and construction -- Periodicals; 629.231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-3369

Abstract

In this paper the feasibility of incorporating a carbon fibre composite half-shaft into the final drive of an electric racing vehicle is studied. Carbon fibre composite tubing is bonded with aluminium inserts to achieve a low mass and high stiffness alternative to conventional half-shaft design. The drive line system was validated using a number of techniques including; finite element analysis (FEA) and torsional tensile testing. Testing revealed that the carbon fibre composite and aluminium half-shaft design presented in this study was 60% lighter and 2.5 times stiffer than conventional alloy steel half-shaft designs.