In This Section

Dartmouth Formula Racing Designs

Dartmouth Formula Racing (DFR), a student-run organization, designs and manufactures formula-style racecars and produces outstanding leaders and engineers in the process.

The 2007 DFR car was designed and built by four teams of students who initiated their design process in the ENGS 190/290 design sequence.

Dartmouth Formula Racing: Vehicle Dynamics

Team: Henning Olson B.E.'07, David Manegold '02 B.E.'07, Staffan Skallenas B.E.'07
Advisor: Douglas Fraser
Sponsor: Dartmouth Formula Racing, Hanover, N.H.

The 2007 Dartmouth Formula Racing (DFR) vehicle dynamics and dampers team completed all design and manufacturing for the vehicle. The final system is composed of four sections: the front sliding bellcrank, the anti-roll package, the rear bellcrank, and the anti-roll package. Our sponsors required us to develop a highly adjustable vehicle dynamics package in which bump and roll movements are decoupled. In the front, a sliding-bellcrank system was selected primarily for its ability to separate and manage independently these bump and roll forces. In the rear, a counter-acting spring system was selected due to packaging constraints.

The 2007 Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize was awarded to Henning Olson, David Manegold, and Staffan Skallenas for outstanding performance in their B.E. project.

Dartmouth Formula Racing: Differential, Drivetrain, and Braking System

Team: Scott Davidson (M.E.M. candidate), Matt Johannessen (M.E.M. candidate), Adam Shaw '07
Advisor: Douglas Fraser
Sponsors: Taylor Race Engineering, Planto, Tex.; Dartmouth Formula Racing, Hanover, N.H.

This year's Dartmouth Formula Racing (DFR) differential drivetrain and braking team was responsible for building systems capable of effectively delivering engine and braking torque to the road for the DFR vehicle. Through the design process, it became apparent that the drivetrain was limited by its mechanical components. While exceeding the specifications from last year's car, the team felt that through an electronic system, mechanical limitations could be overcome. This system allowed the DFR car to corner and accelerate well past its previous limits. Our sponsor, Taylor Race Engineering, allowed the team to modify their existing differential design in order to make improvements in weight reduction and performance.

Scott and the differential
Scott Davidson at work on the differential

A Pro/ENGINEER Mechanica model of the drivetrain

Dartmouth Formula Racing: Race Electronics

Team: Michael Hart '07, Won-Mo Koo '07 B.E.'07, Calvin D. Krishen (M.E.M. candidate)
Advisor: Douglas Fraser
Sponsor: Dartmouth Formula Racing, Hanover, N.H.

Dartmouth Formula Racing (DFR) has traditionally been successful with vehicle design for the annual FSAE© competition. To further enhance the performance of its competition vehicles, the race electronics team aimed to develop an advanced electronics package. The team developed a traction-control system and driver display for the 2007 vehicle.

Groundwork was laid for an electronically-controlled wastegate system. To complete this project, the team mastered engineering principles in automotive electronics, instrumentation, data acquisition, and microcontroller programming.

team
(L to R): Michael Hart, Won-Mo Koo, Calvin Krishen

The electronics installed

Dartmouth Formula Racing: Structural Composites

Team: Charles Ganske '06 B.E.'07, Daniel Sack B.E.'07, Daniel Tootoo '06 B.E.'07
Advisor: Laura R. Ray
Sponsor: MacLean-Fogg, Mundelein, Ill.; Dartmouth Formula Racing, Hanover, N.H.

The structural composites group's goal was to investigate the possible integration of composite materials into the 2007 Dartmouth Formula Racing (DFR) E85 racecar. The group decided to design and build the suspension and seat from carbon fiber. Through rigorous testing, the group optimized the process of carbon fiber construction. By using carbon fiber, the team was able to decrease the weight of the suspension system, while increasing the stiffness. The weight of the seat was also decreased, while the overall rigidity of the car was improved. A study was also performed on the feasibility of using carbon fiber half-shafts, which will provide valuable information for future DFR teams.