Merkle CAE Solutions GmbH becomes sponsor of the new e-Sleek 22 in Formula Student

DHBW Engineering Stuttgart is one of over 500 student clubs that compete annually in an international design competition, Formula Student.

For this purpose, the club, consisting of DHBW Stuttgart students and supported by various sponsors and supporters, designs and builds an electric racing car every year.

On Friday, 13 May 2022, the DHBW team presented the new e-Sleek22 model in a very professional show at the Freie Waldorfschule in Ludwigsburg, which is intended to build on the successes of recent years.

As a new sponsor, we are contributing our expertise and know-how in the field of aerodynamics to the current development and are assisting with the construction of the aerodynamic CFD computer models, providing support with computing capacities, error handling and giving tips on how the flow behaviour can still be improved at one point or another.

One of the big challenges for the simulation is to correctly calculate the flow in the curves with CFD. According to the aerodynamics team, there are still too many deviations between measurement and simulation. No wonder, because this is a supreme discipline, as the flow conditions in the curve change considerably.

Since the top speed is limited according to the regulations and a gigantic torque of the electric wheel hub motors is available, the races tend to be won in the corners. Here, it is important to realise the required downforce even at comparatively slow speeds and with uneven airflow.

We at Merkle und Partner are very happy to work on such projects for the following reasons:

We can show you state-of-the-art simulation results that our customers would otherwise only release after 5-10 years, when no one is interested in them anymore.

We can compare simulation models with test results and have something you can actually touch

We get in touch with young people who have consolidated their theoretical knowledge in a practical application and are enthusiastic about what they do. Because if you love what you do, you will never have to work again. Then the questions about holidays, a guaranteed home office and as much free time as possible are not in the foreground at the job interview.

And last but not least, it's just fun 😊

During the presentation of the rollout, it became apparent that the team responsible for marketing had also done a great job.

After googling "sleek" and seeing mainly women's underwear appear in the image search, I was naturally curious to see what was hidden under the scarf. It turned out to be something very "elegant", which can now prove itself on the race track.

We will certainly visit the race track once or twice with our team to see whether the physics in reality actually do what the simulation promises.

We are looking forward to working together with Team Aerodynamics and are sure that we will be able to initiate one or two improvements and optimisations.