Placebo effect strut tower brace?
06-18-2010, 04:19 PM
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Placebo effect strut tower brace?
Installed a homemade towerbrace yesterday. The piece in the middle is made from an aluminium L shaped extrusion. The endpieces are made from some 4 mm thick aluminium plates. I wanted a brace that did not require cutting the compartment carpet so I fitted it fairly close to the fuel tank.
Driving impressions? Well, during very hard braking the car feels a little more steady and during turn in it is possibly a little sharper. Having said that I also think the car runs better after an oil and filter change!
Driving impressions? Well, during very hard braking the car feels a little more steady and during turn in it is possibly a little sharper. Having said that I also think the car runs better after an oil and filter change!
06-18-2010, 05:12 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
eccentrically loaded ends... with a span of smallish cross-sectional modulus... 
Well, it's helping a bit, but if you could make that span out of a hollow tube, you'd be getting a heck of a lot better resistance to compressive buckling (paper towel tube vs. dry spaghetti strands) for the weight. Also, simple-pinning that spanning piece at both ends would help keep any torsions/moments from pre-bending the span's ends - that helps the span stay straight & Strong!
But it's adding something to maintain your tub's geometry, to be sure.
Well, it's helping a bit, but if you could make that span out of a hollow tube, you'd be getting a heck of a lot better resistance to compressive buckling (paper towel tube vs. dry spaghetti strands) for the weight. Also, simple-pinning that spanning piece at both ends would help keep any torsions/moments from pre-bending the span's ends - that helps the span stay straight & Strong!
But it's adding something to maintain your tub's geometry, to be sure.
06-18-2010, 05:54 PM
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"eccentrically loaded ends... with a span of smallish cross-sectional modulus... "
you're absolutely right elbee964, but I was primarily aiming to prevent the spreading of the towers during turn in. We'll see how it "turns out" (sorry but that was unintentional) on track.
you're absolutely right elbee964, but I was primarily aiming to prevent the spreading of the towers during turn in. We'll see how it "turns out" (sorry but that was unintentional) on track.
Last edited by airfan; 06-18-2010 at 05:55 PM. Reason: spelling
06-18-2010, 06:03 PM
#5
Nordschleife Master
OH! I didn't know that! If those struts are only worked to tension by tub flexure, then you've got a winning design. 
However, that doesn't explain why some enterprising sort wouldn't have itched this scratch a long time ago with the strongest & lightest of pure tension-resistant elements; the rope.
My gut's telling me those tub towers move all which ways, including some compressive.
But if tension's predominant, then yours is a thumb's-up design.
However, that doesn't explain why some enterprising sort wouldn't have itched this scratch a long time ago with the strongest & lightest of pure tension-resistant elements; the rope.
My gut's telling me those tub towers move all which ways, including some compressive.
But if tension's predominant, then yours is a thumb's-up design.
06-18-2010, 08:40 PM
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06-18-2010, 08:47 PM
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06-19-2010, 11:30 AM
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06-19-2010, 11:39 AM
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