Month: November 2023

Clemson Formula SAE (CUFSAE) is a student-run organization dedicated to designing, manufacturing, and competing with a formula-style race car. Clemson FSAE competes on an international level through events hosted by SAE International, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers. Each year, they design and build a new vehicle from the ground up that meets the competition rules and pushes for innovation. The summer and fall are spent designing the new vehicle, which is then built in the spring. Throughout the year, the team also travels to different competitions to compete against other teams from all over the world.

From engineering to marketing to financial planning to graphic design, CUFSAE strives to provide students from all backgrounds with hands-on and real-world experiences. The team is broken down into six divisions, including business, aerodynamics, chassis, electrical, powertrain, and suspension, that collaborate in a fluid and integration-focused manner to create the finished product. The business division gives students the opportunity to gain experience running a small business by dealing with recruitment, sponsorship relationship management, and finances. On the engineering side, the aerodynamics division is responsible for the car components that harness the air around the moving vehicle; the chassis division is responsible for the chassis of the vehicle, as well as the ergonomics and braking subsystems; the electrical division is responsible for the electrical components, mainly the electrical harness; the powertrain division is in charge of the vehicle’s engine and all of the subsystems that harness the power it generates; and finally, the suspension division is responsible for how the car handles and controlling the interactions between the tires and the ground.  Working closely with Clemson’s Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Science, Graphic Communications Department, and the Facilities Department, CUFSAE provides students with the tools to learn relevant skills while exploring the possibilities of employment in the automotive industry.

The Competitions

During the competitions, each team is judged on their engineering skills and ideas as well as production quality through a design review. The design review is hosted by a panel of industry engineers specializing in a variety of automotive fields. The vehicle must go through a rigorous technical inspection along with tilt, sound, and brake testing before it is allowed to compete. The drivers must also prove they have all the required safety gear and the ability to egress the car quickly. The dynamic portion of the competition includes acceleration, skidpad, autocross, and endurance events. Lastly, each team is scored based on their vehicle cost report as well as a business marketing presentation. Each competition is an incredible experience showcasing the preparedness and camaraderie it takes to compete in the automotive world.

The Formula SAE series was developed as a way for student’s to put their classroom knowledge into motion. The competitions are primarily engineering-based but have expanded to include all aspects of racing, including the business side.

Finding Success

The Clemson Formula SAE has found much success this year. In November, the CUFSAE team traveled to Kennesaw State University in Barnesville, GA, for the Barnesville Shootout. Among the four competing teams, Clemson FSAE emerged victorious, securing a well-deserved 1st place. Bringing both of their cars, the Tiger 22 and 23, to the competition, they were able to  showcase their dedication and craftsmanship from the past two years. The event not only celebrated success on the track but also served as a platform for new drivers to gain valuable experience during the driver trials competition. With 35 members, a mix of seasoned veterans and eager newcomers, the team demonstrated exceptional teamwork and skill, making this competition a standout moment in their racing season.

Season highlight performances:

In October, the Clemson FSAE team secured another victory at Michelin’s first-ever Formula SAE event, the Michelin Formula SAE Shootout. They came in 1st out of 6 teams in the Internal Combustion (IC) Class and also won 1st place overall. Additionally, back in September of this year, the team competed at the Pittsburgh International Raceway in the 2023 Pittsburgh Shootout, placing 7th out of 30 for the IC-class. The CUFSAE team is still in the process of testing and refining their car in preparation for the premier competition, the Formula SAE Michigan, taking place on May 8-11, 2024.

Additional highlights:

2018 Pittsburgh Shootout – 3rd Place
2018 Barnesville Match Race – 1st Place
2019 Formula South – 1st Place
2019 Michigan Int. SAE – 18th Place
2022 Formula South – 1st Place
2022 Michigan Int. FSAE – 36th Place
2023 Michigan Int. FSAE – 39th Place

Behind the scenes, the success of the Tiger 23 is largely attributed to the unwavering support of sponsors who have played a crucial role in shaping the car’s capabilities. The team has expressed heartfelt appreciation for these sponsors, including the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute. Their success has not only showcased their skill on the track but has also highlighted the collaborative spirit and dedication that fuels a winning team in automotive engineering. We congratulate the Clemson FSAE team on the success they have accomplished so far and wish them luck with the rest of their competition season!

Be sure to follow the Clemson Formula SAE team on Facebook and LinkedIn @ClemsonFormulaSAE to stay up-to-date on the amazing things they are doing.

In the world of sports, there is a continuous drive to improve human performance. In this field, small improvements can lead to significant advancements. One student at Clemson University hopes that his research will do just that.

Will Mendez is a senior at Clemson who is combining his passion for golf with his degree in Mechanical Engineering to push the boundaries of golf performance. Will’s research is shedding light on the impact that different materials have on golf club performance and hopes to one day make a lasting impact on the sport.

Growing up, Will was always fascinated by cars and loved playing golf. After spending a summer working at a local golf shop, Will discovered how he could combine his love for golf with his love for engineering and design. The following summer, he got an internship with Callaway Golf where he was able to gain hands-on experience designing golf clubs that are now being sold on their website. One of his favorite parts about product engineering is getting to see a project go from the prototype and testing stages to the final product that consumers can buy.

“It’s rewarding to know that I contributed to a product and now it’s being sold around the world. In product design, I love how you get to take a product, commercialize it, and turn it into something that can have an impact on people”

Will Mendez

Working for Callaway Golf, Will discovered his true passion and woke up excited to go to work every day. Coming back to Clemson this fall, he knew he wanted to continue learning about the intersection of these two fields. After discovering an opportunity through the honors college, Will realized he could do just that, while also gaining credits toward his degree.

Will’s Research

Will was curious about the impact that different materials in golf club heads have on ball performance but could not find any research on the topic online. This sparked Will’s idea and desire to find the answer himself. With the help of Dr. Garrett Pataky, assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering, and undergraduate research grants, Will has begun his research into finding a high entropy alloy that has good energy return properties to determine what would work best in golf clubs. He is using multiple testing methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the materials, including drop testing, gas gun testing, and speed measurement devices. Although the research project is still in the early stages, Will has overcome a few challenges already.

The main challenge he has faced so far has been having to build this research project by himself, from scratch. Not having much prior research experience, Will has had to learn as he goes. Although it has seemed daunting at times, he knows that it will be even more rewarding in the end. For that, he says he is thankful that Dr. Pataky has given him the freedom to control the direction of his passion project and test something that no one has tested before.

In the process of building his research project, Will has had to get creative with the materials and testing methods. While trying to find a drop testing device, he struggled to find a consistent release mechanism that could drop a golf ball from 20 feet onto a small metal disc. After unsuccessfully trying many different devices, he came up with the creative idea to combine two systems made from a fishing drone company – the first being a release mechanism that typically drops fishing lures out into the ocean, and the second being a golf ball dropper attachment connected to the release mechanism. Together, these two devices are able to drop the golf balls in exactly the same way every time. Will is also using a gas gun to shoot projectiles at his metal disc. A bluetooth photogate laser speed measurement device is used to measure pre-impact speed, and a high-speed camera is used to measure the post-impact speed. Collectively, these tests will show which high entropy alloys will result in greater energy return.

Will’s Goals

This research is a year-long project that will be completed when Will graduates this upcoming spring. While he doesn’t know what the outcome of the research will be yet, he hopes that he will be able to take what he learns and use it in his future career. Whether he finds a material that is perfect or one that should absolutely not be used, he wants to bring that knowledge to help his future golf employer. Being an avid golfer himself, Will understands the significance of the impact of materials on golf equipment and wants to be apart of improving performance of the game in the future.

Will hopes to join a company in the golf industry following his graduation in May 2024 and continue his work in product engineering. Will credits Clemson for giving him the foundation and tools to succeed in new and challenging environments and he will take those skills with him in his career. A top engineering program and family-like culture drew Will to Clemson and now, after beginning his final year, he says he “can’t imagine going to school anywhere else.”