LEhigh racing x47

The Lehigh Formula SAE team is an undergraduate engineering club composed of approximately 30 engineering and business students with an interest in the motor sports and related industries. Each year the team designs, manufactures, and races a unique single seat race car against 120 schools from around the globe in the Society of Automotive Engineers collegiate design competition. The FSAE competition allows students to experience the complete progression of a product, from initial concept to manufacture and assembly. Our experience in developing the prototype race vehicle educates students in the application of engineering principles, the impacts of business decisions, and establishing supplier relationships.

During the 2017 season, we designed and built this car seen here, X47.  As a senior member of the team, I was tasked with being the lead designer, with my primary subsystem being the chassis.  As with our previous cars, this chassis is a steel space frame with bonded carbon fiber panels acting as stressed skins.  This required a thorough understanding of mechanical engineering principles, as well as the FSAE rules, in order to design a safe and effective car.  This leadership position enabled me to work closely with all other designers, such as the suspension and engine teams, to ensure their systems would be integrated properly.  Late in the season, I became responsible for designing the final drive system and a last minute redesign of the pedals.  While many other teams opt for various types of differentials, we at Lehigh prefer to stick to our roots in light, simple, and budget friendly solutions, which leads to our rational for running a spool.  

We competed in all events as well as completed more laps during the endurance race than any of the previous years I have been a part of the team, and only missed our desired weight goal by one pound, weighing in at 401 pounds!

Previous and Other Roles: X46 Chassis Designer, X45 Pedal Designer, X44-X47 Fabricator and Welder