Powertrain
Meetings: Mondays @ 5:30 pm
Our powertrain team deals with the engine and all supporting systems to get that power to the wheels, ending at the outer axle bearings. We are responsible for getting as much power out of a sub-700cc engine as necessary, using tools as an engine dynamometer, flow benches, along with wheel dynamometer to analyze and improve our package.
Brandon Shaffer
Powertrain Lead
The engine and drivetrain are the heart of the racecar. Through our work on the team, it is important to understand the power that a small spark can have when in the perfect environment. My goal on the powertrain is to provide that perfect environment so that every spark achieves its maximum potential and has the greatest impact- both figuratively on the team and literally within the engine. Bridging the gap between the textbook and the track is one of the most challenging aspects of engineering; we chase it steadily, one lap at a time.
Contact Me
Email: bws210000@utdallas.edu
Projects
Intake
Design a 3d printed intake manifold with the primary goal of providing equal airflow to all four cylinders. Future plans include optimizing plenum volume and runner length for low-end torque
Exhaust
Design an equal-length header exhaust optimizing scavenging while maintaining manufacturability
Drivetrain
Choosing the best differential for the vehicle’s use and creating a differential mount to withstand the forces applied while maintaining a final drive ratio that prioritizes the highest traction limit
Cooling
Designing an efficient radiator that can be easily validated along with the ergonomics of the cooling system
Fuel
Designing a fuel tank in order to prevent sloshing and starving the engine of fuel with baffles, as well as tuning the engine for reliability with an optimal air-fuel ratio
Skills
Being a member of Powertrain (this applies to many other subteams as well), you can learn concepts taught in senior-level engineering courses and beyond, such as Solidworks and FEA/fluid simulations, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, design of mechanical systems, and statics/dynamics.
New Members
The number one quality of a new member is motivation and being eager to learn. We would much rather work with someone who does not know anything about cars but is willing to learn, than someone that thinks they know everything. FSAE is a lot more work than your average organization, so those that continue to stick with it and always looking for ways to improve are the ones that stand out.
