Torsion Testing Team Member Update

Since last meeting, we have further discussed our goals and obtained a better understanding of what is expected of each team member.  My team contacted Kriti Kalwad, a former member of the Superway project, and received torsion track test files and information.  The files are in .wbpj format, but we do not yet have the skills required for working with the data.  Currently, we are still scheduling time to set up and take an ANSYS course.  A few people have requested they see our progress with the tests within the next month or so, and we let them know of our current status.

This week, we expected each group member to research similar top-hanging rail vehicles so we could discuss alterations we could make to the current system.  For now, we will continue brainstorming and focus on learning ANSYS to back our claims with hard evidence.  During the meeting, we discussed the details of the upcoming presentation, as well as our future goals.

Torsion Testing and Sketch (Blog Assignment 2)

As a part of the finite element analysis and torsion test team, we have to conduct a torsion test using a section of the rail to be used in the Superway design.  There are various sizes of torsion testers, but the one available to us can fit a specimen up to 60 inches.  We plan to construct the rail section using a more finalized design later in the semester, and subjecting it to a torsional force.  This, in conjunction with our finite element analysis, will allow us to suggest loading capacities for the vehicle.

Suggested Improvements

One of the main issues that last year's design team faced was solar power.  Currently, last year's design does not include a charging mechanism connecting the solar station and the vehicle, and the panels that are attached are not actually functional.
I understand solar integration is one of the many goals for this year, and I wonder if and how it will affect the structural integrity of the system.  There is a solar mount built for the scale model, but it has not yet been integrated to power the system.  A loading analysis was done in regard to the solar panel mounting, and they found the bracket to move with an acceptable deflection of just 0.04mm.  However, the components that will be required to integrate the rail system and the solar system have not been taken into account, and will require more analysis.  Temperature, loading, and fatigue will all need to be taken into consideration when analyzing the additional circuits and housing we want to add this year.

2014-2015 Spartan Superway Team 2015

Wednesday, September 2nd

    To begin the meeting, each student had "lightning" speeches to present in order to outline what we learned from our research on the project, and what we saw as our goals for this year.  After receiving feedback on the presentations, we were introduced to the different units that the Spartan Superway project would be divided into.  This year, there were three main fields: the small-scale model, the full-scale model, and structural analysis.

    The small-scale model helps to showcase the basis of the technologies that we plan to implement to the project.  Some of the main functions we wish to display include integrated solar panels, vehicle routing, and rail system design.  Although it is not a fully accurate representation of the project, it helps people to visualize and imagine the project as we do.  The scale model is more realistic, and helps to show off the rail-switching mechanism that allows the vehicle to maneuver the tracks.  Finally, the analysis team is responsible for finite element analysis (FEA) of the structure, and suggesting alterations that improve the safety of the overall design.

    For the time being, I chose to join the finite element analysis, since I am already familiar in CAD and programming, but would like some hands-on experience with FEA.  I met my group members Ian Johnsen, Ivan Tapia, and Steve Trevillyan.  We started listing general goals for the semester and year, and talked about how we would achieve them.  The goals included building a 5 ft rail model for full-scale testing, analyzing possible temperature and loading responses using FEA, and redesigning and improving last year's design to use less material and increase safety.  At the end of the meeting, we exchanged contact information to further discuss the project.
    Since the meeting, I have researched further back in the project, and studied what types of changes that have been made over the years.  Mainly, I looked at the design process of the rail system, and thought of various loading conditions that may occur.  I have also looked into finite element analysis programs such as ANSYS and SolidWorks, and have been learning the differences between them. Going beyond our own system design, I looked into similar types of transportation being researched and implemented around the world.  I tried to find the best and worst aspects of each one, and considered what solutions we could adopt and how we could learn from the designs of others.

Introduction

Christopher Fong is a senior at San Jose State University, and is pursuing his Mechanical Engineering degree with a focus in Mechatronics.  He has a diverse work history, and is currently driving for Lyft (an SF based transportation network).  Outside of work and school, he enjoys learning and playing with CAD softwares and programming languages.  In 2011, he received his Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts by planning and leading the installation of a new sign for a community church.  Even outside of scouts he enjoys camping and fishing, and his love for the outdoors is the main reason he joined the SMSSV project.  Looking forward, he hopes to pursue a career in biomedical technology, but also has a strong interest in sustainable energy as well as robotics.