Third year running Melbourne University and Kangan Batman TAFE students gain a solid result at the 2002 Formula SAE-A competition
01 January 2003
The car that was designed by Melbourne University students and constructed by students at KBT.
Every year since 2000, Melbourne University and Kangan Batman TAFE students have formed a team to build a formula-style racing car to enter in the Formula SAE-A competition.
The Formula SAE-A competition which is conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers-Australasia has been running for three years and Kangan Batman TAFE and Melbourne University have entered a formula-style racing car in the competition each year since its inception.
Final year Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering students from Melbourne University and apprentices from Kangan Batman TAFE’s Automotive Group work on the car from as early as February to enter the competition which is held in December of every year at different venues. The students design and build a prototype that competes against cars from other Australian and international student teams.
The aim of this competition is to provide an opportunity for university students and TAFE students to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with other small formula-style racing cars. The participants have to follow restrictions on the car’s frame and engine so that the knowledge, creativity, and imagination of students are challenged.
The University of Melbourne students develop the design of the car on Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems. After the initial design and testing, through a process referred to as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to check for stresses in parts or for any potential part failure, the project passes over to Kangan Batman TAFE students where they work closely with Melbourne University students through the fabrication process.
The work on the car proves the successful collaboration between thinkers on the one hand and doers on the other. The University of Melbourne students benefit and contribute to the project by producing the drawings and Kangan Batman TAFE students benefit from the practical experience of interpreting engineering drawings and construction of vehicles and their associated components. The students from both institutions collaborate in the vehicle assembly process, testing the car and driving it in the different events.
The Melbourne University and Kangan Batman TAFE team referred to as the MUKB team was one of only six Australian teams that competed in the first ever Australasian Formula SAE event, which was held in December 2000 at Ford’s Proving Ground at the You Yangs in Victoria. The vehicle built by the team was described by the Chief Judge Carrol Smith as “the best first year car he had ever seen.”
Having already competed in the 2000 Australasia Formula SAE event, the 2001 team were quick to ensure the technical superiority of their new project. With the aid of composite bodywork and an all aluminium spaceframe chassis, the 2001 car was one of the lightest in the 2001 event held at Holden’s Proving Ground at Lang Lang in Victoria. The performance advantage of the lightweight design helped the 2001 entry achieve third fastest lap time.
In December 2002, Toyota hosted the competition at the CFA Training Facility at Carrum Downs in Victoria. After several minor setbacks, the 2002 entry by the MUKB team ended sixth position overall which once again proved the superiority of its design and finish.
The performance results of the 2002 entry were better as the car was considerably more reliable than previous years. The design was completely different which resulted in a slightly heavier car.
Kangan Batman is the largest provider of automotive training in Victoria it is also the only TAFE institute in Victoria that delivers all of the programs servicing the automotive industry. The current facilities based at Kangan Batman’s Richmond and Coburg campuses service close to 3,750 students per year from across Victoria.
From a Kangan Batman point of view the formula SAE program has provided our students with a great opportunity to get involved in the design and development of a high-level performance vehicle. It gives them a different perspective on the automotive field whilst at the same time gaining experience working with university students.
