Case Study: Kogakuin University achieves ultra-light, high-rigidity solar car design and a top-10 BWSC finish with Altair HyperWorks (Altair)

Kogakuin University - Customer Case Study

Kogakuin University’s Solar Team, a 300+ student group and three-time national champion, faced the challenge of designing an ultra-light, high‑rigidity solar car body and an extremely thin wing that doubles as a solar array while controlling flutter, ensuring driver safety, and reducing metallic part weight. To meet these goals they worked with Altair, using the Altair HyperWorks suite (including HyperMesh, OptiStruct and Inspire) for structural, laminate and topology optimization.

Altair’s tools were used to optimize CFRP layups, perform eigenvalue flutter analysis, and run topology optimization on metal components, enabling a monocoque CFRP package of about 45 kg, a wing tip as thin as 3 mm, and laminate revisions that saved up to 1 kg while meeting rigidity and crash‑safety targets. Altair’s HyperWorks also supported manufacturing communication and student training; the optimized design helped Kogakuin University place seventh in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and materially reduced vehicle weight while preserving strength.

Kogakuin University