Race car dynamics

Covering a distance in the shortest possible time and, above all, crossing the finish line before the other vehicles. This is the goal of a racing car. Racing is a challenge, not only for drivers, but also for engineers, who are constantly seeking new ideas that push technology to the limit to extract the vehicle's maximum potential. The course aims to provide a foundation in vehicle dynamics and, based on this, explain how chassis, tires, suspension, engine, and aerodynamics contribute to overall performance. The course, prepared by a team of instructors from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic University, will address the following aspects:

Vehicle dynamics
The first part of the course provides a foundation in vehicle dynamics: we will apply Newton's laws of mechanics to a vehicle to understand how geometric and inertial characteristics, installed power, and tire-road contact forces influence performance. The parameters with the greatest impact on a vehicle's handling and stability will be analyzed using simplified mathematical models, introducing the concepts of oversteer and understeer.

Aerodynamics
In the second part of the course, we'll see how interaction with air at high speeds increases drag, but also generates downforce that pushes the car toward the ground, increasing road holding. We'll introduce basic aerodynamic concepts and analyze the effect of body shape, underbody, and wings on performance.

Tires and Suspension
The forces generated between tires and the asphalt are the key to maximizing a car's performance. We'll see how using tires in the correct temperature range and with the correct contact patch shape can lead to significant advantages. We'll also examine the role of suspension, which, as the connecting element between the chassis and tires, guides their movement to keep them in contact with the asphalt with the ideal contact patch shape.

The students will participate in hands-on exercises with "physical" car models whose geometric, inertial, and powertrain parameters can be modified. They will also have the opportunity to test the effect of different aerodynamic configurations on drag and downforce by placing models in a small wind tunnel. Finally, they will be able to try their hand at being a race engineer, defining the setup of a virtual racing car and competing in a simulated environment.

Video presentation