What is it about?
This study looked at how different core materials affect the strength and weight of the carbon fiber body used to reinforce the Urban Garuda UNY vehicle for the Shell Eco-Marathon competition. The researchers tested two types of core materials—matt tissue and soric—by making composite samples and testing their strength and density in a lab at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta. The results showed that the soric material made the vehicle lighter, while the matt tissue material made it stronger. Based on these findings, the matt tissue is suggested for parts that need to be very strong, and soric is recommended for parts where keeping the vehicle light is important. This helps improve the vehicle’s performance by balancing strength and weight.
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Why is it important?
This research focus on optimizing the balance between strength and weight for vehicle body reinforcement using carbon fiber composites—a critical factor for improving performance in eco-friendly competitions like the Shell Eco-Marathon. By comparing two different core materials (matt tissue and soric), the study provides practical insights into how to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle while maintaining necessary strength, which is key for enhancing fuel efficiency and performance in competitions that focus on sustainability. The findings can help teams and engineers working on lightweight vehicle design make informed decisions about material selection, especially when balancing weight and strength is crucial. The study’s relevance to current trends in sustainable transportation and lightweight materials makes it timely, as these are major focuses in the automotive and engineering industries. The real-world application of this research in competitive eco-vehicles could attract a wider readership from students, engineers, and designers working in similar fields.
Perspectives
Collaborating on this research and writing the article as a co-author has been a truly rewarding experience for me. Working closely with my fellow researchers not only strengthened our collective knowledge but also provided me with invaluable insights into advanced materials and their real-world applications. This project allowed me to dive deeper into the field of lightweight vehicle design, exploring how different materials can influence performance in eco-friendly vehicles. The process of research, experimentation, and analysis broadened my understanding of engineering concepts while also sharpening my teamwork and communication skills. Being part of this collaboration has been a great pleasure and a significant step in my academic and professional growth.
I Kadek Warjaya
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Carbon fiber composite with core variations impact on flexural strength and density on the reinforcement of the urban vehicle Garuda UNY, January 2024, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0220941.
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