| Author |
Message |
BretM (Bretm)
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2001 - 7:41 pm: | |
That F1 mech site is sweet. I read the whole thing a couple days ago, well worth it. |
Michael Colavito (Mcola)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2001 - 11:04 pm: | |
I believe Berillium has to be alloyed with other metals to be useable. It is also highly toxic which is one of the reasons the FIA prohibits it. |
Joe Trentmann (Seglermann)
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 2:21 pm: | |
http://www.f1mech.co.uk/
This is a good basic tech site for F1 oder Formel Eins!
(On Barge Boards)These devices were first seen in 1993 (although crude devices were seen on the Lotus in 1986) and their purpose is to smooth the airflow around the car. They are mounted between the front wheels and the sidepods, but can be situated in the suspension, behind the front wheels. Their main purpose is to smooth the turbulent airflow coming from the front wheels, and direct some of this flow into the radiators, and the rest around the side of the sidepods.
Since they were first used, they have become much more complicated in their design. The picture to the left shows what they looked like when the were first introduced on the 1993 McLaren. They were just a crude flat rectangle, but now they have evolved into many complex variations as can be seen on the right hand side on the 2000 spec cars.
They have become much more three dimensional in their design, and feature contours to direct the airflow in different directions. Since 1999, the large McLaren style bargeboards have become common among many of the teams, although teams like BAR and Benetton have quite unique designs. Although the bargeboards help tidy the airflow around the sidepods, they may also reduce the volume of air entering the radiators, so reaching a compromise between downforce and cooling is important, this is why some of the teams' designs are very different. The graphic on the right shows some of the shapes of bargeboards that are used in 2001.
Williams and Jordan do not have bargeboards where most teams do. Both teams have the bargeboards situated between the front wheel and the chassis, nestled between the suspension arms. The Jordan device (1) below, is quite intricate around the front suspension arms, whereas the Williams bargeboard (2) is more regular but fixed at a slight angle. |
Bret M
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 8:14 pm: | |
I'm surprised at how many of you guys are into bikes. I have a 1997 Cannondale Super V 2000 with the same year spinergies (4 double spokes). The frame is blue with a yellow swing arm, it's sweet especially with the black spingergies on it. It weighs like 26-27 pounds which may be perceived as a little heavy, but the thing flies downhill and I'm young so that extra weight up hills doesn't really matter, it just makes me get a better work out (right... like I want a better work out). I never really knew much about Berrylium (even though I aced Hon. Chemistry, go figure) it sounds pretty tech though. I'm a fan of good old steel and aluminum personally. These high tech things just seem really expensive and high maintenance. I wouldn't want to pay to replace that bolt (although I'm sure boeing can afford to). |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 6:22 pm: | |
The only thing holding these super metals back from commercial production is cost. Even aluminum is costly to prohibit mass-production. Just look at the sticker for a 360 Modena! The NSX's were never cheap and Honda is losing money on the new Insight (I almost bought one, still may).
Remember, Morgan is still using Ash for the car's inner structure! Plus, for the begining, Marcos were using plywood chassis' for their Volvo-engined GT's. |
mn mark
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 4:06 pm: | |
AHHH. Bicycles. I ride a steel Masi. Made in the USA but I can pretend it is Italian. Carbon doesn't wear so well, starts out nice but gets pretty "whippy" after a lot of use. And if you are unfortunate and crash, it shatters. No carbon on Paris-Rubaix (leave it to the French to have names no-one can spell). Aluminum also is loose. Steel is resilient and is light enough. And a well built steel bike is beautiful. As for titanium, I don't race. I'm on my bike for excercise, so a little extra weight vs. the high price of a Ti frame...
As for cars, I suppose Ti chassis, to take advantage of its strength/weight? See no advantage in the body panels over carbon fiber. A modern F1 car, even the chassis is carbon fiber. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 9:21 am: | |
Yes, actually most of our local club prefers the Merlin over Litespeed. I think Litespeed may be more well known though. I ride a Trek OCLV Carbon. Although my old steel bike was heavier, I liked it better for sprinting. Very solid. Ok, back to cars. Someone will come out with an all titanium body, maybe Ferrari? |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 12:28 am: | |
Larry: Titanium is 22nd on the Table of elements. Aluminum is 13th. For weight reference Titanium has an average atomic mass of of 47.9, Aluminum is 26.982, and Beryllium is 9.012! You wouldn't believe the cost of that bolt you were holding.
Rob: The Europeans wouldn't dare show that their bikes are made in the USA. I like Litespeed, but much prefer Merlin. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2001 - 11:22 pm: | |
Ping had a full set of Beryllium copper irons for golf. I have a Beryllium copper sand wedge from Hogan, but it must be more copper because it only cost about $75.
Being a cyclist myself I know things advanced from steel, to aluminum, to titanium, and then last year I heard about scallium or something like that. The price was something up there with Beryllium. Many of the "hill climbing" cycling specialists in Europe have a titanium Litespeed made in the good ole USA, but painted over with their bike sponsor's name. |
larry dunn
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2001 - 10:42 pm: | |
hey peter, never realised Be., was the 4th. where does titanium come in on the element scale? my uncle use to sell his enclosed drill press and lathe to boeing just for the machining of beryllium. i've held a bolt the size of my forearm that didn't weigh anymore that a pen. tensile strength was more than what makes sense. just amazing! i wasn't suppose to know what it was for. i wanted to keep it. i guess the fumes are deadly. larry |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 3:12 pm: | |
Back in around 1994/5, there was a bicycle company that made a mountain bike out of Beryllium. It weighed 14 lbs. complete and cost $17000! Beryllium is the forth element on the Table of Elements so this stuff is LIGHT, but strong as well. |
jerry
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 7:37 am: | |
Anyone out there have any good technical pics. From races they have attended. I know the boys with the various teams keep most everything under cover but... post'em if you do!
No Berillium, huh? What would one use Berillium for?
This is great stuff, lets keep this thread alive.Regards, Jerry |
BruceK
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 2:14 pm: | |
The plywood plank is required both to ensure the ride heighth requirements are met and to meet the rule that certain portion of the bottom are indeed flat. The material is called "jabrock" (not sure of the spelling) and if I recal correctly it is a special plywood that has been impregnated with some kind or resin and then processed (compressed and heated). It sounds like pretty tough stuff, not something you buy at the local home improvement center.
Re. engines, the Renault engine is supposed to utilize electromagnetics to operate the valves as opposed to the normal-for-F1 compressed air. As mentioned before, I've heard the 20,000 RPM stories too, up from the current standards of "only" 17,000!!! Other interesting tidbits -- F1 engines are full of exotic materials, ceramics and unusual alloys. For 2001, berillium has been banned though. |
larry dunn
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 1:25 pm: | |
from what i remember the plywood is used to keep the ride height legal; should they go through too much tread. titanium was used for skid plates only because it was durable and light and, at times, distracting when you're showered in a spray of sparks. engines are as light as 250 lbs. renault will probably be the first to go crankless; which will really take the weight off and pull up to around 20,000 rpm's. but then FIA will most likely ban it; like 2 strokes and turbo's. regards larry |
Mondial Man
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 9:31 am: | |
I'm just an F1 fan and no expert, but I do know they use the plywood because it's the best thing for when th car bottoms out. They've tried fiberglass, carbon fiber etc. but it seems plain old plywood works best because it 'gives' just right without cracking. Can't say about engine weight. |
Jerry
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 7:36 pm: | |
I would be interested in hearing from those who know something about Formula cars (technical side). There is no other racing in the world (possibly) that is as secretive as F1.
I think it would be great to here from those more informed than myself. I have just recently (last two seasons) become very interested in F1 racing.
This is a little thing but...why do F1 cars have a plank of wood on the underside? Is there some sort of rule?
Is it true that the F1 engines weigh about 250 lbs?
Things like that. |
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