Half the weight, total performance: TU Graz develops light and safe racing car with structure integrated strain gages from HBM

Structure-integrated strain gages from HBM support the TU Graz racing team in the development of a particularly light racing car.

In the "Formula Student" 2006 competition, the student racing team from the TU Graz scored with a particularly light monocoque vehicle shell. Weighing just 15 kg, this monocoque is more than 20 kg lighter than its predecessor. This improvement was made possible by the use of carbon fibre composites and structure-integrated HBM strain gages (1-LI66-10/350). The strain gages were used during test drives to determine the stresses and were also used to verify the calculations of the constructors.

In addition, it was also possible to monitor the stresses during a race online with the structure-integrated SGs. This made it possible for the TU Graz racing team to optimally adapt the monocoque of their racing car to the requirements of the various Formula Student competitions.

And with success: The TU Graz racing team managed to take home two second places in England and Italy during the 2006 season, plus the "Winner Over All" in the Formula Student Germany event in Hockenheim - and was therefore the most successful European team in the 2006 season.

Formula Student – the Formula 1 for students

The Formula Student is an international construction competition held annually at 8 competitive locations.

The aim of this competition is to build a prototype of a single-seat racing bolide for hobby racers and the technical conception for a production of 1000 vehicles per year.

Students must design and construct the racing car, produce or purchase the necessary parts, test the vehicle and produce static and dynamic evaluations.
This competition has taken place in the United States for over 20 years and in Europe since 1998.

Students from over 270 universities around the world take part in this design competition every year.

Comprehensive regulations provide the students with the outline conditions for the conception and construction of their racing bolides. The main focus is on safety. If a vehicle is built, for example, with a multi-tubular frame, the tubes used must have a specified wall thickness and diameter. In a CFP monocoque, the crash safety must be proven with simulations and crash box calculations.

More information about the TU Graz Racing Team on www.racing.tugraz.at