12.4.2019. The development of The ID. R is in full swing. In the summer of 2019, the two electric motors with 500 kW (680 HP) of system power powered prototype with Romain Dumas to attack on the steering Wheel, the lap record for electric vehicles at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
In addition to in-depth test drives and to work in the wind tunnel at Volkswagen Motorsport continues in the preparation phase, heavily on Computer simulation. The digital tools are not only indispensable support for the engineers, you will also save time and costs.
While Romain Dumas trained in a driving simulator, the route or have different Suspension tunings of the ID. R tests for the work of the engineers, simulation technology plays a key role,“ explains Dr. Benjamin Ahrenholz, head of calculation/Simulation at Volkswagen Motorsport. “In the case of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife comes to us that we have to the route and the road conditions, a Wealth of data. We can use the ID. R virtually as efficient as possible, not make, although he is real even on the Nordschleife.“
What Pilot Dumas plays in the virtual Cockpit – the term “Driver in the Loop”, the Computer in the Offline vehicle dynamics simulation, by turns, theoretically, an infinite number of rounds with a stored profile. This is used to determine how different performance of the engine or a shift of the Vehicle taxes, the impact of gravity on the lap time. The goal: optimal driving characteristics and engine response.
In the flow simulation of the aerodynamics Department of Volkswagen Motorsport using the CFD technology (Computational Fluid Dynamics) researches how the air most effectively to the ID. R around and through the cooling system. Is looking for the ideal compromise between downforce and air resistance. In the battery simulation strategies are compared to performance management and recuperation, in order to use the stored in the batteries as well as recovered during braking to electrical energy as efficiently as possible.
And finally, in the structural simulation to the mechanical design of individual components. The Nürburgring-Nordschleife, places high demands on the structure of a race car. A priority for the structural simulation calculations for the load of the Chassis, the chassis and body of the ID. R. For example, the so-called topology is used-optimization in the development of series vehicles. A typical task is to construct a component within a predetermined period. While in series production, the claims are usually however, for as long as possible shelf-life and economic production, what is the priority of the ID. R: not as stable as required, at the same time as easily as possible.
Volkswagen ID. R (photo: Volkswagen AG)
