Use of Carbon Fiber Composites

[Lakshitha]

Hi,

I'm Lakshitha, team leader and head of aerodynamics and composites in Team SHARK Racing from Sri Lanka. This year we are hoping use carbon fiber for the first time.

Can we use a carbon fiber panel as the floor panel without violating the rule T 3.7.3 of 2018 FS rules that says "The panels must be made of a solid, non-brittle material" ?
Thank you.

[Owen Thomas]

Yes.

Consider a layer of Kevlar where the floor may scrape the ground.

[Lakshitha]

Yes.

Consider a layer of Kevlar where the floor may scrape the ground.

Thank you Owen

[mech5496]

But...why? An aluminum panel would be cheaper, weight about the same, and be way more suitable as a material to the abuse floor closeouts normally see.

[Lakshitha]

But...why? An aluminum panel would be cheaper, weight about the same, and be way more suitable as a material to the abuse floor closeouts normally see.

I'm Hoping to integrate the under-body diffuser and the side-pod underside to the flow panel also. Using a carbon fiber panel gives me the freedom to shape all the component desirably.
And also CF panel proved to be stiffer so under aerodynamic forces it won't deflect unnecessarily.