Strength of carbon fibre componants

[Websta]

Looking at how thin that nose is, is there any risk of it being sharp enough to penetrate the crash structure in a T-bone collision? I know that the nose has to be very strongly built in order to pass the crash tests, so I would expect it to generate and sustain a lot of pressure if it were to impact a car.

[Rikhart]

Looking at how thin that nose is, is there any risk of it being sharp enough to penetrate the crash structure in a T-bone collision? I know that the nose has to be very strongly built in order to pass the crash tests, so I would expect it to generate and sustain a lot of pressure if it were to impact a car.

Great pictures by the way.

The nose is just weak carbon fibre, it will crumple very easily so wont penetrate anything. The only thing that has to pass crash tests is the driver cell, further back.

[FrukostScones]

Looking at how thin that nose is, is there any risk of it being sharp enough to penetrate the crash structure in a T-bone collision? I know that the nose has to be very strongly built in order to pass the crash tests, so I would expect it to generate and sustain a lot of pressure if it were to impact a car.

Great pictures by the way.

The nose is just weak carbon fibre, it will crumple very easily so wont penetrate anything. The only thing that has to pass crash tests is the driver cell, further back.

crash test rquirements are in the regulations

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.ns ... 2-2011.pdf

against penetrating they have layers of Zylon in the tube (but remember Zylon won't give you a second chance).
There once was a big smash, when Heidefeld got off the track, returned backwards and pentrated Satos Jordan with his rear crash structure, luckily he was not seriously injured.

nice pictures btw, and blackouts pic shows TR7 parts, exhaust is after the panel so no hole needed.

[aral]

Looking at how thin that nose is, is there any risk of it being sharp enough to penetrate the crash structure in a T-bone collision? I know that the nose has to be very strongly built in order to pass the crash tests, so I would expect it to generate and sustain a lot of pressure if it were to impact a car.

Great pictures by the way.

The nose is just weak carbon fibre, it will crumple very easily so wont penetrate anything. The only thing that has to pass crash tests is the driver cell, further back.

Carbon fibre certainly isnt 'weak'. That blade could penetrate a body like a knife through butter!

[beelsebob]

Looking at how thin that nose is, is there any risk of it being sharp enough to penetrate the crash structure in a T-bone collision? I know that the nose has to be very strongly built in order to pass the crash tests, so I would expect it to generate and sustain a lot of pressure if it were to impact a car.

Great pictures by the way.

The nose is just weak carbon fibre, it will crumple very easily so wont penetrate anything. The only thing that has to pass crash tests is the driver cell, further back.

Carbon fibre certainly isnt 'weak'. That blade could penetrate a body like a knife through butter!

Carbon fibre is extremely weak if you hit it at the wrong angle. This particular lay up for example is likely to be extremely strong to downward forces on the nose, but fairly weak to a head on collision. This is why the suspension on these cars can take a battering at 200mph, but when you kick the wheel, or tap it from the side in a collision it snaps like a twig.

[flynfrog]

I will bet you $1000 USD that you can not break an F1 Arm kicking it at any angle you want.

Yes they are weaker in some directions than others but not that weak.

The resin used make a big difference in the impact tolerance of a CFRP

[Dragonfly]

Isn't the nose layered in some "programmed" disintegration manner? So that it absorbs impact energy while splintering sector by sector from the tip.

[bhall]

I will bet you $1000 USD that you can not break an F1 Arm kicking it at any angle you want.

I'm half-tempted to take you up on that. Such items aren't that difficult to acquire, especially around here.

[Nando]

Isn't the nose layered in some "programmed" disintegration manner? So that it absorbs impact energy while splintering sector by sector from the tip.

Correct.
It´s not weak in any direction by any means, it´s designed to absorb energy from an F1 car hitting a wall in any angle.

[MIKEY_!]

Isn't the nose layered in some "programmed" disintegration manner? So that it absorbs impact energy while splintering sector by sector from the tip.

I believe so. I recall a video of the USF1 nose breaking up in a specific way to dissipate crash energy. This structure can be internal too. That way they don't need to re-test the nose when they change it's shape.

[raymondu999]

It's meant to disintegrate in such a way that the impact energy goes into disintegrating the nose rather than the monocoque and hurting the driver.

[flynfrog]

I will bet you $1000 USD that you can not break an F1 Arm kicking it at any angle you want.

I'm half-tempted to take you up on that. Such items aren't that difficult to acquire, especially around here.

if you win I will deliver in person in Austin

[bhall]

If I had it to lose, I'm almost certain I'd make that bet. Here's why:

If a carbon fiber suspension member propped up against a wall at an angle can withstand the impulse of a kick, it's over-engineered, and thus, too heavy. Otherwise, there's simply little to no reason for a suspension member to have that capability, and, frankly, I'm not so sure teams make those mistakes.

[Gridlock]

You don't understand bhall, these people know how strong F1 arms are at all angles, and understand that instead of crumple zones and energy dissipation systems the nosecones are built for strength front-on.

[Pablo_Dublin]

You don't understand bhall, these people know how strong F1 arms are at all angles, and understand that instead of crumple zones and energy dissipation systems the nosecones are built for strength front-on.

Designed to crumple to dissipate energy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXf2jx-fHZ0