Which is stronger for bending: tube or rod?


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mattias
mattias
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Hi,

I crashed my RC airplane (again!) and broke the 6x4mm carbon fiber tube in the wings.
I'm looking at replacing it with something stronger this time. The stresses are bending only - no tension or compression length-wise.

Which of the following would be the best?

  • 6mm carbon rod,
  • 6mm (4mm inner diameter) carbon tube,
  • 6x4mm carbon tube with a 4mm rod inside?


Thanks,

Mattias
Warren (Staff)
Warren (Staff)
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It all depends on your circumstances.  6mm of solid rod will always be stiffer than 6mm OD tube.  However its a compromise between weight and strength, hence why tubes are often used.  In bending there is still tension and compression on the opposite sides of the tube/rod with less force in the middle, hence why with a reasonable wall thickness, the weight reduction more than offsets the slight strength loss from having a tube over a rod.

If you are stuck with 6mm, then a rod is your only option but with the added weight penalty. if not, id try a 8mm OD tube and see how you get on.

Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
wozza
wozza
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If you strengthen the wings it will probably break somewhere else. The wings may have been designed to be the weak point in order to protect the fuselage? 

Warren

Carbon Copies Ltd
singcomposite
singcomposite
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mattias

I suggest you use customized tube with optimized layup angles. These available standard sized tubes may not meet your requirement.  
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