Wood, Benjamin M. (2011) Overcoming the barriers to sustainable motorsport. EngD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The aim of this Engineering Doctorate was to identify and develop strategies and technologies to overcome the barriers to sustainable motorsport. A top-down approach was taken beginning with an industry-wide strategy and ending with the development of individual sustainable technologies. After identifying a set of target guidelines for the industry to follow, the economic, social and environmental barriers to the future sustainability of motorsport were identified. These barriers were addressed through the creation of an industry-wide regulatory strategy followed by an innovative company-focussed technology development process; High Performance Sustainability (HPS). The HPS process was used to develop Eco One, a revolutionary racing car featuring environmentally sustainable technology which generated significant public engagement and facilitated evaluation of the HPS process. This technology demonstrator was used to make iterative improvements to the HPS process, resulting in HPS2, a second generation process with greater focus on performance and the development of sustainable technology. This novel process was used to research and develop individual environmentally-sustainable technologies; natural fibre reinforced composites and the use of high performance biodiesel. Firstly lignin, a natural, renewable, waste material was added to hemp/epoxy composites as an innovative compatibiliser with a resulting improvement in mechanical properties. Secondly, engine parameters were modified for the use of biodiesel made from soybean oil, resulting in torque equal to diesel fuel but with a lower in-cylinder pressure. The impact of these technologies is the opportunity to use renewable materials for high performance applications, potentially competing with existing motorsport technology. The innovations presented in this Engineering Doctorate led to recognised expertise in sustainable motorsport within WMG, and in turn resulted in sustainable motorsport projects including WorldFirst, in which a Formula 3 car was developed featuring natural fibre composites, high performance biodiesel and recycled carbon fibre components. The impacts of this work are the establishment of industrial projects with race teams and constructors, conference attendances and peer-reviewed publications, and dissemination of research through the development of academic courses and extensive media coverage.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (EngD)
Subjects:	T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Motorsports -- Environmental aspects, Sustainable engineering
Date:	November 2011
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Warwick Manufacturing Group
Thesis Type:	EngD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Kirwan, Kerry ; Maggs, Steve
Extent:	x, 122 leaves : illustrations, charts
Language:	eng
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/51907

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