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.
Jeff Spitzer wrote:
Done right, rivets are an excellent way to attach composites to metal.
Your concern about heating due to motion may be correct but should not
exist in a properly prepared joint.
Jeff Spitzer
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