This year’s PMW Expo will include an exciting, and not to be missed, new addition with expert Ton Serné set to deliver a chassis masterclass aimed at professional motorsport engineers and mechanics.
Drawing on his decades of experience in both racing and academia, Serne’s class will focus on first principles. These will center on the fundamentals of spring design, covering topics such as coil spring calculations, motion ratios, pre-load, anti-roll bars, third element springs, and more.
The class will be held on Thursday November 14, from 12:00pm-4:00pm.
Participants will receive a full-color copy of the workshop slides for future reference.
For more information about the workshop leader and his book, visit: www.handlingracingcars.com.
There is a €250 (+ German VAT) fee attached to this masterclass. Please purchase your pass, by clicking below:
REGISTER HERE
Participants will learn to set design goals and calculate spring rates, with an extensive discussion on frequencies and practical calculation examples included throughout. By the end of the four-hour, hands-on masterclass, participants will be equipped with immediately applicable skills for use in the workshop.
Following completion of the workshop, participants will be comfortable with the analysis of the current springs in their race car, and equipped with the knowledge needed to design new springs to better match their needs.
Session structure
The class will be split into four key sections.
Fundamentals of Springs
: Understanding the relationship between a torsion bar and a coil spring
: Calculating a coil spring
: Linear vs progressive coil springs
: Analysis of parallel and serial spring configurations
: Influence of push/pull rod mechanisms on spring rates
: Motion Ratio: analyzing spring deflection vs wheel travel, for both springs and dampers
: Creating a progressive spring rate at the wheel with a linear main spring
: Understanding pre-load: its purpose and function
: Anti-roll bars: their function and calculation
: Third element springs: function and calculation
: Demonstrating the relationship between the main spring, anti-roll bar and third element spring
: Understanding the role of springs in distributing the front static load percentage, front load transfer, and front roll resistance
Spring Design Process
: Setting design goals and working through the process step-by-step
: Geometric construction of the roll arm and pitch arm (force-based)
: Calculation of the roll moment and pitch moment
: Calculating the required spring rates at the wheel
: Calculating the main spring rates and anti-roll bar rates
Frequencies
: Calculating the frequency per wheel (useful for damper analysis at a later stage)
: Locating the dynamic bounce and motion centers
Practical Calculations
: Participants will perform calculations during the workshop
: Final calculations for roll-angle and pitch-angle will be completed
