Researchers on the University of Bologna have carried out crash simulations to qualify a novel photo voltaic powered 350 kg passenger automobile for the following version of the three,000 km Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) throughout the continent. in Australia.
A analysis group on the University of Bologna in Italy has carried out crash simulations to qualify a novel solar-powered 4-seater automobile to take part within the 3,000 km Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) in complete continent of Australia.
The electrical photo voltaic automobile, named Emilia 5, is a category cruiser entry within the 2025 BWSC occasion. The Cruiser class is one in every of three photo voltaic automobile classes on the biennial occasion held by organizers to encourage idea vehicles with “modern, sustainable, and doubtlessly sensible options that discover their manner into real-world design”.
The Emilia 5 measures 4,500 mm x 1,510 mm x 1,230 mm and weighs 350 kg. The engine has a 120 km/h most velocity. It is powered by photo voltaic PV panels from Italian module producer Solbian, utilizing Maxeon cells. The chassis of the automobile is product of carbon fiber bolstered plastic (CFRP).
This is the fifth mannequin developed by the Italian Onda Solare staff, and the third in collaboration with the University of Bologna. “The staff began the competitors in 2003 with its first automobile, which was a photo voltaic bicycle. The University of Bologna participated in 2013 with Emelia 3, a Challenger Class automobile. The subsequent automobile, Emelia 4, a autos within the Cruiser Class. It received the 2018 American Solar Challenge and the 2021 iLumen European Solar Challenge,” analysis chief Giangiacomo Minak SPOKE pv journal.
Minak famous that the Emilia 5 has among the similar parts because the Emilia 4, such because the powertrain, which was designed by the staff itself. “The use of recycled carbon fiber materials within the elements utilized in the back and front of the automobile is new. We additionally use recycled molds. The inside is extra spacious and cozy for 4 passengers. The door openings are designed to accommodate bodily challenged passengers,” Minak stated.
“We additionally modified the design for sturdy winds to cross. Despite the adjustments, the aerodynamics can be no less than nearly as good because the Emelia 4. The shade can be Ferrari purple,” Minak stated, including that the group just lately obtained funding from the Italian National Center for Sustainable Mobility (MOST), supported by the NextGenerationEU programme.
The crash simulations contain three necessary checks: a frontal affect take a look at, a facet affect take a look at, and the rollover affect take a look at. The staff used Ansys LS-Dyna 2023 R1 software program and LS-Dyna R13. The latter is used to make seat belts and to measure the doorway to the inside of the cockpit.
Referring to the aerodynamics of the automobile, which permits it to achieve speeds corresponding to highway autos, the researchers acknowledged that it isn’t cheap to take action in a state of affairs corresponding to crash checks just like the place small vehicles on the highway like within the metropolis. vehicles are topic to.
More computational assets for affect simulations are required as a result of virtually the whole automobile, together with seats, seatbelts, and sled testing, have to be verified. “Crash simulations of composite supplies are sometimes related to easy elements reminiscent of plates submitted to bending affect, low-velocity affect, limitations subjected to bullet affect or tubes of varied sections that subjected to axial affect,” the staff defined.
Another problem in numerical modeling of CFRP elements is that they’ve “anisotropy”, mechanical properties that change relying on the orientation of the masses.
“Through three crash take a look at simulations utilizing Finite Element Method (FEM) software program, as mandated by the competitors pointers, the automobile confirmed sturdy resistance to deformation,” the staff concluded.
The staff offered its findings within the examine “Crashworthiness evaluation of a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic photo voltaic automobile,” printed in Composite Structures.
With this set of checks accomplished, the Emilia 5 design will progress in the direction of competing within the subsequent BWSC. In the meantime, Minak stated, the Italian staff is getting ready for the eight-day Sasol Solar Challenge throughout South Africa in mid-September.
Image: Onda Solare
This content material is protected by copyright and might not be reused. If you need to cooperate with us and need to reuse a few of our content material, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.