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Re: Suspension/Driving...

To: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
Subject: Re: Suspension/Driving...
From: Dave Dahlgren <ddahlgren@snet.net>
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 05:57:22 -0400
Possibly not one you are aware of?? A problem might be defined as a deviation
from expected performance. That expectation is a personal evaluation as to what
is correct. If I were to work on the rocket engines in the space shuttle and did
not know how they work how would i know if there were a problem or not? If
unaware of a problem then there are none to define so the problem does not exist
or does it? I think the first thing that has to done is to define the expected
performance and design goals other wise it comes down to the old 'It will be
fine'...

The first step in the suspension experiments might be to define the desired
outcome.
I.E.
Maximum traction with maximum straight-line stability and the ability to follow
deviations in the racing surface and cross winds.
Coupled with enough lateral stability to make steering corrections within a
range of speeds that are defined and control the lateral loading from said
corrections..

In racing most problems are not defined until some one goes faster than the
current norm. When dragsters were going 220 mph they had no imagined problem
hence nothing to define, that performance today would be dismal. If someone ups
your record by 20 mph then the problem will be defined and the first part of the
answer would be to find out what they did different..

All problems are a matter of perception of acceptable and expected results. I
have a customer that races a turbo 2.1 liter sports car. First problem car needs
to come off the corner faster. It is a personal evaluation as to how fast it
should come off a corner given the weight and engine size. Solution , make more
mid range power by having the turbo spool up quicker. New problem engine hits
the boost limiter on hard accel at midrange speeds and makes a pop out the
exhaust on occasion. Again a perceived problem as the car is faster but makes an
unfamiliar noise. the difference is the first problem is real and the second is
not but both a personal evaluation as to what is correct operation..
Dave

Keith Turk wrote:

> I know that sounds stupid but it's not really.... it's the first step in
> problem solving... defining the problem.... ( if you can't define one there
> isn't one )
> 
> K





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