organic wrote: ↑11 Sep 2023, 23:49
I agree that those elements look to have a rubber covering of some kind
However, Horner claimed at Monza when asked about TD018/Flexi-wing stuff that it wasn't something that would affect RB, but we'll see about that I guess.
Paint/anodizing. Those inboard elements are metal. They are narrow and small in section; as such less benefit to laying them up in CF, while saving time and material cost as a machined part. Note the slot gap separators are integral to it.
ringo wrote: ↑11 Sep 2023, 23:22
Checo's crash in Monza, did reveal a very thin floor structure; possibly with some insulating material.
Also illustrates how hollow the keel is. The center floor area as a whole could deform like a trampoline. Tradeoff is: how much of a gap can be made between the top of the plank and the monocoque/engine block. To make more space implies raising CoG.
Important to know that the floor test is done with three rams pushing up into/around the three holes in the plank. Two tests--one with the rams going through the holes straight to the chassis (to test chassis stiffness in Y plane bending), the other with rams pushing on the perimeter of the holes to test for plank movement. Notice that teams put the skid blocks near these holes. From there it's easy to see how the rest of the plank is unconstrained. As far as I've seen all teams have hole adjacent skid blocks and seams in their planks.