Beginner Tutorials
Formula Student - Part 4 - Motion Analysis
The video demonstrates how a rigid body motion study is created to analyse the kinematics of a Formula Student front suspension. The assembly is sectioned to expose the double wishbones, bell crank, rocker linkage and upright. Ball‑joint simplifications streamline joint behaviour, while the shock absorber is represented virtually using spring and damper elements. Contact definitions, gravity, virtual springs, damping and wheel loads are applied, including a dynamic bump force imported from acceleration data. The resulting motion study outputs wheel displacement, reaction forces and orientation plots, helping validate clearances, travel and load transfer before moving on to further structural optimisation.