Carbon Fiber Weave

Hello Jim, while never have I had the pleasure to meet you, I must say in all the interviews in media outlets you really come across as a down to earth guy who just happen to have a passion and ability that few of us have. Much like the late Tom Mittler who Ive worked with its a real joy to see your dreams come to reality. Thankyou for letting us mere mortals to be able to share here in your posts. Im with everyone here, Envious. Thanks Norm

 

Napolis-

Do you know if there will be teams running the new 458 Challenge cars at the Ring or Le Mans?

(sorry to digress from the thread a bit)

 

absolutely correct. dependent upon quantity, specs, etc...they will use method accordingly. most of the carbon bits on this car, if not all, is likely prepregged and cured in autoclave. it's positively cool being able to follow the build of this car. even if she doesn't win anything, the journey will have been fantastic even for those of us from a distance.

 

Good point on the wrapping, never thought of how it would be easy to repair. My guess is wrapping material/color would eventually look like authentic Ferrari paint etc.

 

that is some serious weave, quality quality.

 

Ferrari uses some pretty advanced materials on their road cars. However, the bumpers are generally made out of a non-carbon fiber fiberglass-like material, which is pretty heavy.

Wouldn't carbon fiber would be a better choice due to the fact that it can absorb a great deal of impact energy and that it would be much lighter.

Why isn't it an option on road cars? Cost or DOT/regulatory isssues?
Maybe Ferrari is concerned that it has not been proven material for bumpers.

Doesn't the Ezno have carbon fiber bumpers?

 

Hello Ive worked with C/F and while it has great tensile strength it will not absorb anything as it has hardly any deflection to a flat unsupported panel, the epoxies used would just shatter. Plus to repair is very costly on a minor impact. C/F is excellent for structual support and overall body panels for its stronger than Poly or glass LB for LB which makes it perfect for a lighter race part.
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Wow- those pictures say it all.

I was thinking about F-1 cars where the front bumper is CF but the shape is different-a nose cone which can absorb the impact quite well.

As you point out on a street car it is a flat surface and as such would shatter easily. (Maybe some absortive material could be place behind the CF?)

 

Jim - read this thread and starting asking a friend of mine about the new carbon fiber. He starting talking about weave patterns and tow size but he also mention 3D carbon fiber.

Quote from him:

"3D weaves are where instead of stacking layers of carbon on top of each other, there is one ply that is woven 3 dimensionally. Depending on how the weave is oriented you can adjust which axis have higher strength. It is really cool stuff but very limited applications and very time consuming."

He said that it most likely wouldn't be used in motorsports as you would have to make one very special weave per part but just figured I would ask if you guys were using this technique.

 

That's what the roll cage is for.

 

If it doesn't absorb anything how is it used for F1 crash structures even in the absence of z-fibres?

 

Hello, C/F itself will not absorb any energy, its the structure itself while deforming in a collision that dissipates that energy. There is very little deflection in C/F that is its strong suit for stucture. This is what leads to the shattering of C/F and in most cases a part that is beyond economical repair. Its a one time occurance that results in a replaceable only part. Such as front nose cone and wing section, hit once hard and thrown away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc0wFyCIDfE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bORT8C9EG8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfnECuWduE8

 

Jim, if you end up with boatloads of broken carbon fiber parts, you can send some my way. I'm sure I can find some space on my garage wall to hang some up.

I'll pay shipping.

Peter

 

I suppose that truly I would rather have you succeed than get some cool garage art, too.

The offer still stands if something happens, or you are getting rid of parts that you redesign after the first two races.

Peter

 

Speaking of...

Jim,

Outside of the final car being some cool garage art itself (when not in use), are there any mockups, naked shells or prototypes, etc that are going to be left over for your personal garage or museum display? I guess similar to the P 4/5 design body that you had in other threads. Just the frame alone is beautiful.

Cheers

 

One could spend hours just looking over the details.

 

As a person who has built some cars... had lots of stuff fabricated... i just shake my head at these pictures... I can't even imagine the bill... Best of luck in your race adventure. You deserve a win for your enthusiasm, contribution to the community, dedication in every applicable way and of course financially. I can't wait to see the final result!

 

I second That!