RE: Re[2]: new plates :)

["Duff, Ian" <iduff@charter.com>]

Wow! I get to use Eric's trademarked Buzzer! BZZZZTTTTT! Carbon fiber is
excellent in tension, but is terrible in compression. The matrix (epoxy,
usually) is what supports compression, and it only does a so-so job.
Creative design can turn pure compression into tension that something
like carbon fiber can take care of, like using a tube rather than a rod.
Given that the shock tower brace does indeed get loaded in both tension
and compression, some material that supports both is ideal. Alloy with
carbon reinforcement? In any event, carbon would be snappy looking, but
less effective than something like the alloy most often seen. A carbon
brace would not be prohibitive to produce in comparison with alloy, so
given the small cost benefit and big performance benefit, alloy is the
more attractive solution.

Ian Duff, New Bedford, MA
1990 Coupe Quattro

>----------
>From: 	STEADIRIC@aol.com[SMTP:STEADIRIC@aol.com]
>Sent: 	Friday, May 10, 1996 5:06 PM
>To: 	tcandey@usr.com; esw5@cornell.edu
>Cc: 	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
>Subject: 	Re: Re[2]: new plates :)
>
>>     Carbon fibre's attributes don't lie in torsional rigidity.
>>     
>>     Except in the case of pehaps a complete monocoque where there are many 
>>     different surfaces. I don't think that a sigle tube would have the 
>>     strength that is need to be bennificial in that application.
>
>Bzzzzttttt.....  Your loading a strut tower brace in Tension and 
>Compresion.  Exactly what carbon is for.....
>
>Later!
>
>
>Eric Fletcher
>'87 5KCSTQIA2RSR2B
>St. Louis, MO
>
>STEADIRIC@aol.com
>
>
>