FORMULA SAE AT TAMUQ

NEW SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT RECOMMENDATION REPORT

Presented to the TAMUQ Mechanical Engineering Department

By: Ahmad Almomani

Contents
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 2
Formula SAE Competition Brief ............................................................................................................... 3
Benefits to Students at TAMUQ ................................................................................................................ 4
Team Necessities from TAMUQ ................................................................................................................ 5
Final Recommendation ............................................................................................................................... 5
Appendices ................................................................................................................................................... 6

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Executive Summary
The Senior Design Project is unique to each major with the goal of giving senior students
the opportunity to put the theoretical knowledge that they have gained as students into practice.
Every university has different criteria as to what can qualify as a Senior Design Project with
TAMUQ always having a high regard for the importance of this course and its benefit to students.
Students are enabled to integrate their knowledge into the real world. Generally, Senior
Design is highly beneficial to students applying to different jobs. This is because potential
employers regard this project highly to help determine whether or not a student is a good candidate
for the job. Some Senior Design Projects are preferred over others leading some students to be
directly head-hunted as a result of the project.
For the Mechanical Engineering students at TAMUQ, the Shell Eco Marathon (SEM) is
one of the possible Senior Design Projects available for the students to choose. The Shell Eco
Marathon is a slow paced race where teams focus primarily on making the most fuel efficient
design. The types of fuel is generally the greatest variance among teams. Each team is allowed to
pick the type of fuel that they wish to use. They will then compete against only the other cars with
the same type of fuel. Here at TAMUQ natural gas is used as a direct result of its prominence
within the region.
Since teams will only compete against teams with the same type of fuel, they are forced to
focus a great deal on using simple and creative ways to create a lighter design. As a result, races
are slow paced where teams have to finish within a set maximum time.
As previously mentioned in the competition brief, Formula SAE is a fast paced competition
with roots in Formula 1. Unlike SEM in the way that they focus on making the most fuel efficient
car, Formula SAE pushes students to build and design race cars. They must focus on acceleration
and turning ability of the car all while meeting very defined and specific safety regulations. This
challenges students to become more innovative in their approach to their design.
Formula SAE is extremely competitive where 120 teams from across the globe are
challenged to push the boundaries of the regulations to build the fastest car. This knits an
international community of talented young engineers who make relations that last them a life time.
At times, the top students are head hunted by different companies in the automotive industry. Also,
a strong relationship is built between students and companies who sponsor teams for the
competition.
SEM is a great senior student project but Formula SAE is more competitive and pushes
students further making them branch out and learn many new skills that they may not have learned
while working on the SEM project.

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Formula SAE Competition Brief

Formula SAE is a competition made for engineering students who want to participate in a
fast paced environment similar to that of Formula 1. The competition has roots in primary school
all the way to high school prior to the University level competition. The goal is for a group of
students to come together to build a car to compete on a high level in terms of best acceleration,
endurance, and cornering ability all while having the least possible amount of money spent on the
car itself.
Registration for the competition begins on October 6th, 2014 whereas the competition takes
place from May 13-16th in Michigan, USA. One hundred and twenty teams from various
universities compete in the Formula SAE, including Texas A&M University at College Station,
which placed 2nd overall in 2014.
Over the course of the nine month competition, the team must work together to build a
chassis and assemble an engine of less than 610cc along with other parts in order to make the
quickest car. Many of the top cars accelerate from 0-100kmph is under 4 seconds and weigh
approximately 223kgs. During the races, speeds can reach just over 100 kmph, but the car can
reach top speeds of over 200kmph. This open wheeled racing competition has few restriction but
nonetheless challenges students to become creative in the materials they use in order to reduce the
weight of the cars as much as possible.
The competition is spread out to have 1000 points where most are focused on the endurance
event coupled with the fuel economy event where two drivers cover 22 kilometers of a winding
track which is made at the digression of the organizing party. Each team must spend time to follow
all of the regulations in order to have a car which is allowed to race within the events. Only cars
which meet all regulations are allowed to compete.
Texas A&M at Qatar is an ideal place to begin this competition since it will help further
the learning of many of the students involved. Also, Qatar is a great venue for this competition
since it will allow students access to financial resources that wouldnt be available in other
countries. With the beginning of this competition at TAMUQ, a team could begin and help future
teams to compete at very high levels in the near future. This all could happen while assisting other
teams such as the Shell Eco Marathon team in the university in their endeavors. With the proper
approval and spaces, a team of this nature could potentially thrive representing both the university
as well as the country.
All in all, we must not forget that competition breeds innovation and through this allows
from a greater and more thorough learning experience. All in all, this competition is perfect for the
TAMUQ student body as it would allow students to further their education in a hands on learning
environment. It will also allow for students to learn about different positions within a team from
leadership roles to marketing.

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Benefits to Texas A&M University at Qatar

-

Texas A&M at Qatar would benefit in many ways, one of the most prominent ways is
the increased participation and hands on learning experience of the students who
participate in the competition.

The SAE students participating in the Shell Eco Marathon will benefit from the
technologies used in the design of the car. This includes the use of a carbon-fiber
chassis and incorporation of the Kinetic Energy Recover System (K.E.R.S.). The KERS
can be used by the SEM students to improve fuel efficiency and increase power to allow
for a quicker and more fuel efficient car.

A heritage of TAMUQs participation in one of the most prominent university level

engineering events will begin.

TAMUQ students will get the opportunity to make connections within many different
companies as they take the time to market the team in order to attain sponsorship

Benefits to Students at TAMUQ

-

Student would be given a more diverse and challenging experience building a Formula
SAE car, learn more and become better engineers through this project

Students are given a better opportunities to find jobs as they would be viewed highly
in comparison to Shell Eco Marathon students

- As a result of the hands on community that is formed from this competition, students
will gain many connections on a global level
-

Students would still be given the opportunity to pick which Senior Design project
they would prefer to undertake

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Team Necessities from TAMUQ

Mentors Mentors from the Mechanical Engineering Department similar to the Shell Eco
Marathon would be crucial for the success of this Senior Design Project
Sponsorship by University For this competition, similar to the Shell Eco Marathon, there are
costs that must be paid for registration. This cost is further explained in detail below in the
Estimated Budget section of the report
Space The current Senior Design Project is being worked on in lab 048 which would be an ideal
place to continue work on this Senior Design Project
Access to Labs Labs must be used in order to help assemble and machine any necessary parts

Final Recommendation
As a final recommendation for the TAMUQ Mechanical Engineering Department, it
would be highly beneficial for both the university as well as students to adopt the Formula SAE
competition as a new Senior Design Project. Many of the necessities of a Formula SAE team do
not differ from those that currently exist for the SEM and as a result reallocating resources to a
different project of a similar nature would be highly feasible. TAMUQ would be able to graduate
students as better engineers while also making the graduating students more demanded in the job
market. As a whole, this competition would be greatly beneficial for TAMUQ which is why I
recommend that Formula SAE is adopted as a new Senior Design Project.

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Appendices
Appendix 1:
Estimated Action Plan Schedule
By October 6th
-

Attain sponsorship from companies

Register on October 6th

By November 1st
-

Order all mechanical parts necessary for car including engine transmission ect.
Begin external aerodynamic body design
Complete Design of K.E.R.S and Chassis

By December 1st
-

Organize parts as they arrive

Complete external design of body
Begin to build K.E.R.S.

By January 1st
-

Build K.E.R.S.
Build chassis
Assemble major parts begins

By February 1st
-

Assemble vehicle (only minor parts must be added)

Test car
Asses car according to regulations

By March 1st
-

Refabricating of anything that failed to comply with regulations

Chose drivers and begin to be taught how to race properly
Begin to prepare travel documentation

By April 1st
-

Complete training of all drivers with rules and how to drive the car
Prepare presentation

April 15th
-

Ship car

May 1st
-

Finalize presentation
Revise drivers rules

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May 12th -17th

-

Travel to compete

Appendix 2:
Estimated Budget:
Item
Registration
Honda CBR 600RR engine
Chassis and body
Transmission
Brakes and Tires
Other parts
Racing gear
Suspension
K.E.R.S.
Miscellaneous
Travel (15 people)
Total Cost

Cost
10,000 riyal
10,000 riyal
15,000 riyal
5,000 riyal
2,500 riyal
15,000 riyal
5,000 riyal
5,000 riyal
10,000 riyal
22,500 riyal
100,000 riyal
200,000 QAR

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