Executive Summary

Proponents:

Arie Emanuel Liston

Victor Colin Tan

Proposed Adviser:

Engr. Renyl B. Barroca, Ph.D.

Proposed Undergraduate Thesis Title:

Structural Design and Simulation of the Prototype and Urban Concept Vehicle using Finite
Element Analysis
Background:

The Shell Eco-Marathon is an annual competition hosted by Shell Global, a global

business group composed of various energy and petrochemical companies in more than 70
countries [1]. The said event is being hosted in three major events or regions-the Americas,
Europe and Asia. This event aims to promote responsible energy usage and environmental
protection by encouraging students from different countries to design and create their very own
fuel-efficient vehicles which will be tested in a circuit through actual driving. There are two main
categories in the competition, the urban, and the prototype concept. In both categories, the team
with the least fuel consumption after driving a specified number of laps within a time limit will be
deemed as the victor [2]. Over the past years, universities in the Philippines also took the initiative
to accept the challenge- one of which is the Ateneo de Davao University.

The Ateneo de Davao University, as a Catholic, Jesuit and Filipino university engages
vigorously in environmental protection, the preservation of biodiversity and the promotion of
renewable energy [3]. As such, through the School of Engineering and Architecture, the university
decided to join the said competition. The university first participated in the prototype concept of in
2015 held at Manila, wherein the student members showcased a local product called rattan by
using rattan as the primary material for the vehicles shell. The said university continued their
participation in 2016, where the focus of the students was to increase the fuel efficiency and
mileage of the prototype vehicle. In 2017, the universitys latest involvement in the competition
led to a promising achievement by garnering the second most fuel-efficient vehicle entry in the
Philippines. Two things can have a direct impact on the efficiency of the vehicle, and there are
the drivers abilities and the vehicles specification [4]. As such, the vehicle itself must be designed
for fuel efficiency.

One way to make a car more efficient is to increase power with decreased energy input;
this is prevalent in the industry by down-sizing the engine or having a better engine design. The
other one is shaving weight to the vehicle; this one is obvious because a lighter vehicle will always
require less energy to propel. The Department of Energy reports that a 10% reduction in vehicle
weight results in a 6-8% improvement to fuel economy. [5] This happens by removing non-
essential parts, or using new materials like Aluminum, Carbon Fiber, and material composites.
These new materials are light. However, it must still be as strong as the material it replaces to
avoid compromising driver and vehicle safety.

Problem Statement:

For the prototype vehicle, a 35cc engine will be used that will run on ethanol. Ethanol has
a low calorific value than gasoline, so for this engine, the study is expecting a lower power output.
Lower power output means more fuel to propel the vehicle, making it inefficient.

The prototype vehicle will have a maximum weight of 225kg given by the added
regulations set by Shell Eco-marathon 2016 and will use an 115cc gasoline engine utilized by the
previous years prototype entry coupled to a differential. The added weight of the whole vehicle
given its small engine will require the engine more fuel to burn to propel the vehicle making it less
efficient making the vehicle heavier with the same powered engine will make it work more, making
it inefficient.

To address this decrease in power and added weight, the researchers could minimize the
amount of fiberglass; the material for the previous prototype used but will reduce the strength of
the shell compromising driver safety and overall strength of the vehicle. The vehicle frames
weight could also be decreased by designing one which is light, durable, and uses the least
materials. With this, the study aims to develop a vehicle frame and shell that is lightweight but
robust and rigid to protect the driver and the vehicle.
Preliminary Research Plan and Methods

Material
Frame and
Testing FEA
Research Shell
and Data Analysis
Designing
Gathering

The study shall be theoretical and experimental through calculations and simulation. The
researchers would look for new materials which can be used for the frame and shell of the
vehicles. Theoretical calculations will be used to aid the study for designing a frame and shell for
the vehicles. Next, the researchers would develop and model the shell and frame for the prototype
and urban concept vehicles. The modeling will be done through SolidWorks. Material Testing and
Data Gathering will include testing composite materials used for strength and stress capacities
through a Universal Testing Machine. Once the data has been gathered, the FEA [6] analysis will
follow by the input of the results given by the Universal Testing Machine.

Facilities, Equipment, Tools, and Material Required

Facilities used:

Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

o Jubilee Building, Ateneo de Davao University Jacinto Campus
Universal Testing Machine
o Ateneo de Davao University Jacinto Campus

Equipment used:

SolidWorks
References

[1] "ABOUT US," Shell Global, [Online]. Available: http://www.shell.com/about-us.html. [Accessed 7

July 2017].

[2] "ABOUT SHELL ECO-MARATHON," Shell Global, [Online]. Available: http://www.shell.com/energy-

and-innovation/shell-ecomarathon/about.html. [Accessed 7 July 2017].

[3] "Vision and Mission," Ateneo de Davao University, 13 August 2011. [Online]. Available:
http://www.addu.edu.ph/vision-and-mission/. [Accessed 8 July 2017].

[4] B. Deierlen, "Managing Fuel Consumption," Palatine, vol. 27, no. 12, pp. 24-27, 2001.

[5] D. o. E. O. o. E. E. &. R. Energy, "Lightweight Materials for Cars and Trucks," 2015. [Online].
Available: https://energy.gov/eere/vehicles/lightweight-materials-cars-and-trucks.

[6] J. E. Akin, Finite Element Analysis Concepts via SolidWorks, World Scientific, 2009.