charles.harbert wrote:
Paul, there are approved method for making AC connections from composite to
metal and I don't believe this is one of them. Using blind rivets or screws
would produce point loadings which could loosen up the connection due to
vibration and torque reversal (4cyl/4 stroke). Once you introduce movement,
composites fail very quickly because they can take the frictional heat. Maybe,
as you've suggested, he's bonded the composite to a internal metal tube, but
again it's not a normally accepted method.
I'm wondering why he is using a composite driveline, when an aluminum or steel
tude would have been just as light and is a proven design. He's probably making
<150 hp, so I hope he's done the calculations to be sure he's got enough of a
safety factor.
Well I hope we hear from Charley soon. :-) I think carbon fiber is better
than metal for this application. Stronger and lighter and probably some
damping that metal does not enjoy. Lots of race cars are using carbon fiber
drive shafts.
Paul Lamar
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