[Z06] Aluminum frame
07-22-2005, 09:59 PM
#1
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Aluminum frame
Is anyone who is going to track the new Z06 worried that it has an aluminum frame? After all, the C6R is steel as are almost all NASCAR frames to withstand the forces generated on a track.
07-23-2005, 12:31 PM
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The C6-R was homologated under the C6 and the Z06 may be homologated next year in some other sports car series. The Corvette engineers didn't order aluminum instead of steel for the Z06 and called it a day.
The Aston Martin DBR9's steel roll cage is bonded and bolted to the extruded aluminum structure due to the fact that steel can't be welded to aluminum.
http://www.astonmartinracing.com/home
Also, I think aluminum will only increase in use with cars as they are usually getting heavier and/or bigger. A few examples...
- Autoweek.com said last year that the next Audi TT will have an aluminum chassis.
- The new Jaguar XJ (26 % bigger than previous steel XJ yet keeps the weight down) has an aluminum chassis and the next XK will use it.
- The Panoz Esperante has an aluminum chassis. It will use some carbon fiber next year. I'm not sure if the Esperante GTLM (races in GT2 in ALMS) has an aluminum chassis.
http://www.panozauto.com/
- The new Ferrari 612 Scaglietti has an aluminum chassis and so will the replacement for the 575 M.
The Aston Martin DBR9's steel roll cage is bonded and bolted to the extruded aluminum structure due to the fact that steel can't be welded to aluminum.
http://www.astonmartinracing.com/home
Also, I think aluminum will only increase in use with cars as they are usually getting heavier and/or bigger. A few examples...
- Autoweek.com said last year that the next Audi TT will have an aluminum chassis.
- The new Jaguar XJ (26 % bigger than previous steel XJ yet keeps the weight down) has an aluminum chassis and the next XK will use it.
- The Panoz Esperante has an aluminum chassis. It will use some carbon fiber next year. I'm not sure if the Esperante GTLM (races in GT2 in ALMS) has an aluminum chassis.
http://www.panozauto.com/
- The new Ferrari 612 Scaglietti has an aluminum chassis and so will the replacement for the 575 M.
07-23-2005, 02:17 PM
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Not new and NABFD.
Aluminum Framed, Unibody and Monocoque cars have been produced and raced since the mid '60's. (Can AM, FA, F1/3, Indy, A/B/C/D Sports Racers, LeMans Prototype, etc.)
What IS new is the Hydroforming Process, which adds to the strength and manufacturing ease. This has allowed production Aluminum Frames to be manufactured with equal or superior strength to steel frames with comparable economics of scale. AND has allowed them to have favorable harominic frequencies in regards to torsion, stiffness and deflexion.
All raced production car's manufacturing techniques, structure, crash-worthy-ness, safety, standard features, options, and specifications must be Homologated by the FIA. Aluminum structures have to be proven to withstand the same external forces (front, back, side, top, bottom) as steel structures.
Required DOM Steel Roll structures can be attatched a number of ways:
- bolting around the Aluminum structure using backing plates
- welding an Aluminum mounting plate onto the Aluminum structure and bolting to it
- welding the steel roll structure directly to the Aluminum structure using exotic bi-Metal welding techniques.
Currrent cars that are racing having Aluminum structures are Lotus Elise & NSX. ENZO Ferrari and Porsche Carrara GT have Carbon Fibre Structures.
It may take some more time, work and thinking to attatch a roll structure to an Aluminum framed car.but what I would worry about more is the repair costs if damage should occur.
I don't think more damage will occur for a given incedent only that the repair cost will be higher.
Aluminum Framed, Unibody and Monocoque cars have been produced and raced since the mid '60's. (Can AM, FA, F1/3, Indy, A/B/C/D Sports Racers, LeMans Prototype, etc.)
What IS new is the Hydroforming Process, which adds to the strength and manufacturing ease. This has allowed production Aluminum Frames to be manufactured with equal or superior strength to steel frames with comparable economics of scale. AND has allowed them to have favorable harominic frequencies in regards to torsion, stiffness and deflexion.
All raced production car's manufacturing techniques, structure, crash-worthy-ness, safety, standard features, options, and specifications must be Homologated by the FIA. Aluminum structures have to be proven to withstand the same external forces (front, back, side, top, bottom) as steel structures.
Required DOM Steel Roll structures can be attatched a number of ways:
- bolting around the Aluminum structure using backing plates
- welding an Aluminum mounting plate onto the Aluminum structure and bolting to it
- welding the steel roll structure directly to the Aluminum structure using exotic bi-Metal welding techniques.
Currrent cars that are racing having Aluminum structures are Lotus Elise & NSX. ENZO Ferrari and Porsche Carrara GT have Carbon Fibre Structures.
It may take some more time, work and thinking to attatch a roll structure to an Aluminum framed car.but what I would worry about more is the repair costs if damage should occur.
I don't think more damage will occur for a given incedent only that the repair cost will be higher.
07-23-2005, 02:28 PM
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Not new and NABFD.
Aluminum Framed, Unibody and Monocoque cars have been produced and raced since the mid '60's. (Can AM, FA, F1/3, Indy, A/B/C/D Sports Racers, LeMans Prototype, etc.)
What IS new is the Hydroforming Process, which adds to the strength and manufacturing ease. This has allowed production Aluminum Frames to be manufactured with equal or superior strength to steel frames with comparable economics of scale. AND has allowed them to have favorable harominic frequencies in regards to torsion, stiffness and deflexion.
All raced production car's manufacturing techniques, structure, crash-worthy-ness, safety, standard features, options, and specifications must be Homologated by the FIA. Aluminum structures have to be proven to withstand the same external forces (front, back, side, top, bottom) as steel structures.
Required DOM Steel Roll structures can be attatched a number of ways:
- bolting around the Aluminum structure using backing plates
- welding an Aluminum mounting plate onto the Aluminum structure and bolting to it
- welding the steel roll structure directly to the Aluminum structure using exotic bi-Metal welding techniques.
Currrent cars that are racing having Aluminum structures are Lotus Elise & NSX. ENZO Ferrari and Porsche Carrara GT have Carbon Fibre Structures.
It may take some more time, work and thinking to attatch a roll structure to an Aluminum framed car; but what I would worry about more is the repair costs if damage should occur.
I don't think more damage will occur for a given incedent only that the repair cost will be higher.
Chevy engineers were originally going to make the Aluminum Hydroformed Frame with thicker walls but found the could manipulate the hydroforming process to leave strength in the structure where they needed it and thus were able to use thinner walls. This resulted in favorable strength and torsion except for deflexion or mid chassis sag. They brought this paraameter within spec. by bonding and bolting on the Magnesium roof section. This is why you will never see a convertible or Targa Z06 rolling off the production line.
Aluminum Framed, Unibody and Monocoque cars have been produced and raced since the mid '60's. (Can AM, FA, F1/3, Indy, A/B/C/D Sports Racers, LeMans Prototype, etc.)
What IS new is the Hydroforming Process, which adds to the strength and manufacturing ease. This has allowed production Aluminum Frames to be manufactured with equal or superior strength to steel frames with comparable economics of scale. AND has allowed them to have favorable harominic frequencies in regards to torsion, stiffness and deflexion.
All raced production car's manufacturing techniques, structure, crash-worthy-ness, safety, standard features, options, and specifications must be Homologated by the FIA. Aluminum structures have to be proven to withstand the same external forces (front, back, side, top, bottom) as steel structures.
Required DOM Steel Roll structures can be attatched a number of ways:
- bolting around the Aluminum structure using backing plates
- welding an Aluminum mounting plate onto the Aluminum structure and bolting to it
- welding the steel roll structure directly to the Aluminum structure using exotic bi-Metal welding techniques.
Currrent cars that are racing having Aluminum structures are Lotus Elise & NSX. ENZO Ferrari and Porsche Carrara GT have Carbon Fibre Structures.
It may take some more time, work and thinking to attatch a roll structure to an Aluminum framed car; but what I would worry about more is the repair costs if damage should occur.
I don't think more damage will occur for a given incedent only that the repair cost will be higher.
Chevy engineers were originally going to make the Aluminum Hydroformed Frame with thicker walls but found the could manipulate the hydroforming process to leave strength in the structure where they needed it and thus were able to use thinner walls. This resulted in favorable strength and torsion except for deflexion or mid chassis sag. They brought this paraameter within spec. by bonding and bolting on the Magnesium roof section. This is why you will never see a convertible or Targa Z06 rolling off the production line.
07-23-2005, 03:31 PM
#6
Team Owner
The Ford Gt has a aluminum space frame with non stressed aluminum body panels with 550 HP.
