Chassis of the Wolf GB08
A heart of the car, this component fundamentally originates as a really innovative element for the vehicles of this category. The objectives were torsion and bending rigidity, with requests in terms of security that are related, on the other side, with definitely low targeted weight.
To achieve this goal, as the composite materials analysts have made choices without compromise, the only way to follow was that to intervene on the chassis’ shape, from one side to the other, pushing to the extreme the lay-up optimization of carbon layers, their shapes and orientations according to the most extreme conditions of employment. The experience gained in aerospace and tight collaboration with suppliers of the highest level have granted achievement of the winning posts.
Aerodynamics
In this case also, the requests in terms of “down force”, load distribution and aerodynamic penetration have put the designers in front of the great challenge.
Once more, the numeric simulation, as is already a custom in the highest level categories, has been of fundamental importance for subsequent testing, during the driving of the car, the benefits of certain solutions, or exclusions of others.
The most critical point of the project has been the research of the increased load on the front axle, obtained by the tall nose design and the specific study of the flow around the front splitter.
Suspensions
Considering a rapid evolution of this category cars, aside from the traditional scheme of the rear suspension, from the very beginning of the project a front suspension architecture is devised in a way that could anticipate two different schemes: a double wishbone with push rod for centrally mounted single shock absorber or, alternatively, an innovative system with tree shock absorbers, as a subject of recent developments.
A suspension mechanisms and its dynamics are studied during so called multi body simulation, introducing a bending of the components, apart from the detailed definition of flexible and damping elements.
Car homologation
A final step of the GB08 project was the FIA homologation, comprising all static and dynamic tests, predicted by regulations, and conceived, in fact, to guarantee security of the driver. As is already mentioned, for this purposes served the crash test, even if all the rest checks satisfied requested norms, but above all in order to give a full value to the simulations done on the computer, confirming that way a methodological validity.