Hi Roman,
That's useful and interesting information which I *think* confirms my
suspicion that if I drop my 3 ton cruiser hard onto a rock on the
transfer case bash plate an aluminium plate is liable to crack and
collapse where my steel one will at worst start to bend. Maybe 3 tons is
not enough to crack 8mm aluminium even with point loads though? This is
extra interesting because I know someone with a big sheet of 8mm
aluminium plate
Best regards,
Jon.
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]]
On Behalf Of Roman
Sent: 12 July 2005 22:21
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: Re: [ELCO] (info) (80)
On 7/12/05, Jon Wildsmith <[Email address removed]> wrote:
Jon,
To achieve the same rigidity of structure, an 8mm alu sheet
(depending on the grade) is at best equivalent to a 5mm thick steel
sheet.
In terms of deflection (stiffness), the aluminum plate will yield at
around 29% greater yield strength than the "equivalent" steel plate
and will fail at around 12.5% of the ultimate strength of the
"equivalent" steel plate when flexed. In other words, inch for inch,
aluminium but much easier to break than steel but much harder to bend.
It is not necessariily a liability. I'd rather have a steering guard
that will break on impact than one so stlff that it will cause the
chassis to bend.
--
Rgds,
Roman (London, UK)
'92 HDJ80