Motorsport Engineering
The goal of the motorsport engineering program is to educate advanced degree engineers who can take on key roles in the motorsport industry. The program of study consists of specialized courses and research related to the motorsport industry. Courses, such as Race Car Vehicle Dynamics and Race Car Design and Development, supplement traditional mechanical engineering classes. Research areas include racecar vehicle dynamics, powertrain technology, aerodynamics, and advanced materials.
Current and recent research topics include composite engine valve development, race damper characterization, vehicle dynamics simulation, complex systems design and analysis related to hybrid electric vehicles, energy absorption profile of composites, two-element airfoil optimization, vehicle aerodynamics in yaw, in-cylinder bulk flow analysis, and piston-cylinder friction measurement.
The Green Motorsports Initiative leverages existing research aimed at improved efficiency and focuses on current challenges facing the motorsport industry. As the motorsport industry responds to the need to help define and develop technologies in areas pertinent to current automotive environmental challenges, a corresponding demand is emerging for advanced degree engineering graduates who have specialized knowledge supporting the advancement of green motorsports. In addition to the current coursework, students will be introduced to technology, design and safety considerations of a whole new generation of performance vehicle through advanced coursework and research. Initial research supporting green motorsports focuses on powertrain efficiency gains through engine component weight reductions, friction reduction, energy recovery systems, and hybrid systems simulation and testing.
Four faculty currently participate in motorsport engineering research:
Thomas Bradley, Ph.D. (Complex systems design and analysis, integrated vehicle design and energy management and the validation of design models and methods as applied to hybrid electric and fuel cell powertrains)
Patrick Fitzhorn, Ph.D. (Modeling and analysis of transient vehicle stability and control; damper systems and damper testing and analysis; design processes for holistic "whole vehicle" systems.)
Donald Radford, Ph.D. (Advanced composite materials, chassis design, high temperature composites for improved engine efficiency, smart materials and sustainable composite materials)
Hiroshi Sakurai, Ph.D. (CFD for aerodynamics, smooth surface generation from curves, mesh generation by volume decomposition, & computer aided process planning for machining)
- Motorsport Engineening Research Center
Director: Donald W. Radford
AERC Foothills Campus