For Formula 1 and from rallying to stock-car racing, one can argue few things in life inspire as much emotion and excitement as do motorsports. Unified in a perpetual state of wide-open throttle, all forms of automobile racing employ some combination of velocity, acceleration and G-forces to deliver a potent, high-adrenaline experience unlike any other.

 

Modern race teams are employing every tool imaginable to lock in the checkered flag on race day. Due to the highly regulated nature of motorsports intended to foster an even playing field, a winning edge must necessarily derive from incremental improvements. Think ‘evolution’ and not ‘revolution’ here. An amalgamation of minute tweaks, adjustments, and optimizations that culminate in just enough added downforce, reduced weight, or enhanced fuel efficiency could easily mean the difference between victory and defeat.

 

To go after these small but crucial pockets of opportunity that potentially aggregate into a winning advantage, race teams today are embracing simulation and CAE technology. Quite simply the winning teams are beating the competition by doing a better job of "Simulating Reality" aiming to ‘get it right the first time. CAE simulation saves time by significantly reducing physical testing and allows the engineering design team to quickly and accurately evaluate design alternatives. To identify problems as early as possible, the best in class are more likely to take a systematic approach with simulation, and regularly perform analyses throughout the design process.

 

Many types of motorsport simulations:

• Acoustics

• Aerodynamics

• Closed course path optimization

• Structural analysis of components

• Thermal performance

• Hydraulic and pneumatic actuators

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