Generatively Designed Vehicle Suspension Member

This rear control arm acts as a lightweight, load-bearing suspension member for a Baja racing competition vehicle. The CWRU Baja SAE team designed this part using Altair Inspire, a specialized 3D design software that optimizes strength of a part while minimizing its weight. By simulating the loads that the arm will need to carry, the software generates the lightest possible support structure. The students then used the waterjet cutter to fabricate the part out of a solid block of extruded aluminum.