KINEMATICS & VEHICLE DYNAMICS

DELIVERING THE GRIP
THE CAR
DEMANDS.

"Suspension design is a constant trade-off. You cannot optimize every parameter at once. Some gains demand compromises. We choose what matters most, accept the sacrifices, and engineer the best possible balance—because in this domain, the 'best of both worlds' does not exist."

Explore Kinematics

THE MATH OF
MECHANICAL GRIP

"In motorsports, horsepower is useless without mechanical grip. The suspension system and tyre selection determine exactly how much lateral and longitudinal force the car can safely withstand during a lap, which ultimately dictates our lap times."

THE BOLD MOVE:
ZERO ARBs

"We made the strategic decision to completely eliminate both front and rear Anti-Roll Bars (ARBs). This approach drastically simplified our packaging, reduced component complexity, and allowed us to shed significant weight without compromising dynamic stability or suspension performance."

TARGET:

65 KG UNSPRUNG MASS.

MANDATE:

Minimize (and preferably eliminate) compliance in the suspension and steering setup to prevent deflection from altering geometric properties.

DURABILITY:

Ensure the desired Factor of Safety (FOS) is met for every component under maximum loading, focusing strictly on fatigue life.

Lotus Shark Kinematics

01 // THE OBJECTIVE

Maintain strict 65 kg unsprung mass while optimizing dynamic camber & bump steer. Strategic elimination of all ARBs — simplified packaging, reduced complexity.

Lotus Shark · SolidWorks · ANSYS FEA · Excel

02 // GEOMETRY SHIFT

A-Arm inclination: 99° → 105°. Front IC closer to wheel, shortened FVSA. Result: 45% increase in dynamic camber with bump vs. previous prototype.

FOS validated · Topology-optimized · Zero compliance · Clearance for packaging

03 // MATERIALS

A-Arms: AISI 1018 Steel — strength, weldability. Uprights/Hubs: Al 7075 T6 — high strength-to-weight, fatigue life.

Validated: Lotus Shark · ANSYS FEA · Driver feedback

SUBASSEMBLY NOMENCLATURE
& MATERIALS

Dynamic Teardown Anatomy
04 07

Wheel Hub & Rear Upright

Machined from aerospace-grade Aluminum 7075 T6. Selected for its exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio and superior fatigue life under cyclic track loads.

12 13

Lower Arm & Upper Arm

Fabricated using AISI 1018 Carbon Steel Tubes. Chosen for high strength to ensure desired FOS under tensile and compressive loading, offering superior weldability.

14 19

Toe Rod & Push Rod

Critical linkage components utilizing a combination of AL 6061 T6 and AISI 1018 Carbon Steel to balance overall weight and sheer strength.

16 01 02

Damper, Tire & Rim

Unsprung mass components rigorously selected to hit the strict 65 kg target, maximizing mechanical grip without parasitic weight penalties.

FEA Boundary Conditions

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
& FOS

Before manufacturing, every component is subjected to rigorous FEA simulations in Ansys. We apply extreme boundary conditions to ensure that the required Factor of Safety is met under maximum simulated loading conditions, guaranteeing survival through endurance events.

Topology Optimization

COMPLIANCE &
TOPOLOGY

Static structural heat maps allow us to identify low-stress regions. We perform topology optimization on every component to enable aggressive weight reduction without negatively affecting the part's stress limits or kinematic performance.