Continuous feedback loop
Because of the seamless connectivity between CATIA and SIMULIA in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the team was able to easily act on simulation results and reflect them back into the design of the car – an approach widely referred to in the industry as MODSIM (modeling and simulation).
“We design with CATIA, generate the surfaces, mesh the model, run the simulation and then bring those results directly back into the design environment,” Jansonnie said. “Within the context of the full structure, we can see which parts are working properly according to the flow. It’s much smoother to exchange ideas.”
Having different design disciplines, such as surface and mechanical design, linked within CATIA supports this iterative process. Working with such high performance materials is a careful balancing act of making sure they’re structurally robust while being as light as possible.
“We’re led by aerodynamics in terms of surface design, and then we have to translate that into feasible mechanical parts, considering their thickness and ability to withstand aerodynamic loads,” said Thomas Orlier, mechanical designer at Peugeot Sport. “Having the entire car represented in a digital model helps us make those informed decisions and be as efficient as possible.”
Everyone involved in the project, including those in the workshop, have the opportunity to view the latest 3D model of the car and give their opinion.
“We want everyone to feel invested in the design of the car, so to be able to consider their ideas and comments is really important,” Le Fur said. “It helps different teams understand how we arrived at certain design decisions and why.”
This continuous engineering loop is also critical for incorporating driver feedback, particularly when it comes to the car’s aerodynamic balance. Engineers must take into account individual driving preferences and find the optimal set up.
“If we have a good balance between the front and rear of the car, it’s much more pleasant to drive,” said Nico Müller, driver at Team Peugeot TotalEnergies. “If we are 2% to 3% too far forward, the car becomes difficult to drive. Too far back and there’s too much understeer. The correlation between the simulations that the engineers use and what we feel on the track is very good. If an engineer says, ‘This is the window where we think the car performs the best,’ that’s the case in reality as well.”
