The plant-based aero project is one I started at the end of 2024. I created the plant-based aero project because I was really interested in learning aerodynamic design and using CFD in an automotive context. At the time, our Formula SAE team did not have an aero team due to a lack of interest in the past and the challenges involved in safely working with composites when we didn't have a proper composites shop. I was able to get people interested in the process of designing an aero kit for a Formula car, but we were still facing the issue of not being able to work safely with traditional composites like carbon fiber. This is when we decided to switch to plant-based composites because the particulate matter they release is much less damaging to the people working with them. The plant-based composite we ended up using was a hemp-based fabric meant for chair upholstery. Naturally, this came with some drawbacks compared to carbon fiber, but with some testing, it performed well, especially for prototyping, while being significantly safer to work with, cheaper, and better for the environment. More documentation for this project can be found on the YouTube series: CLICK HERE, the official Formula SAE podcast: CLICK HERE, and my school's website: CLICK HERE. 

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For me, this project was a great entry into working with compressible fluid flows and the manipulation of fluid flows to produce and reduce the forces they generate. It was also a good exercise in starting a team from scratch, and the commitment it takes to get the project and subsequent team to become and establish an entity. My school's Formula team now has a dedicated aero team building off of what we learned in this project to design another aero package for the future generation of car.