Bill: Your right, weakest link will fail first.
Properties of 304 Stainless: http://asm.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=MQ304A Figuring the area of a 1/8 inch rod and using the 31,000 PSI shear strength of 304 SS = 380 pounds force. So, theoritical strength of one connection is 380 pounds, and there are multiple connections that transmit the track tension. In the Non- theoritical world, The aluminum track segment would fail first, because aluminum is weaker, by far, than 304 SS and a full shear situation would not develop. I was more worried about the pins bending rather than shearing. After pulling on, twisting, and trying to bend, this brass and plastic prototype, I have good confidence it will hold up. Mark On Jun 13, 2:38 pm, Bill Hamilton <[email protected]> wrote: > On Sun, Jun 13, 2010 at 2:32 PM, Don Shankin <[email protected]> wrote: > > I thought that 1/8" pins seems a little small as well, but then I thought > > about it, and in a completed track, whatever force is applied will be spread > > across all of the pins. Combine that with the shear strength of SS, AND the > > fact that there are multiple points where a shearing force is going to be > > applied to each pin (I count 3 per pin in this design), and I think it would > > probably be OK > > The force is spread across each pin in a track segment (well, each > shear point), but the pins in each segment see all of the force of the > drive train. Just as a chain is no stronger than its weakest link, a > track is no stronger than the weakest pin. > > -- > -Bill Hamilton -- You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat
