Lightweight and Very Strong Material

  • Thread starter Thread starter Seraph042
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Material
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on selecting a strong and lightweight material for a theoretical project in a Mechanics of Materials class involving a shaft with specified loads and torques. Participants suggest materials such as Diamond, Silicon, Carbon Fiber, and Spectra fibers. Key considerations include defining the stress state under point loads, determining beam deflection, and understanding the limiting factors for load-bearing capacity. The project emphasizes material suitability based on criteria like strength-to-weight ratio and shear modulus.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Mechanics of Materials principles
  • Knowledge of material properties such as shear modulus and tensile strength
  • Familiarity with structural analysis techniques for beams
  • Experience with material selection criteria in engineering design
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the shear modulus of Spectra fibers
  • Explore the mechanical properties of Carbon Fiber composites
  • Learn about stress analysis in beams under axial loads
  • Investigate the application of Diamond and Silicon in engineering materials
USEFUL FOR

Engineering students, material scientists, and design engineers involved in selecting materials for structural applications or theoretical projects in mechanics.

Seraph042
Messages
26
Reaction score
0
For my Mechanics of Materials class, we have a project where we are given a shaft three points, with specified lengths in between each point, a specified load at one endpoint, and an applied torque at the middle point.

We get to decide the material and its structure (constantly changing cross-section, prismatic bar, two straight bars) etc.

This project is purely theoretical and no actual manufacturing will go into it, and as such no cost is an issue

I am looking for a strong and lightweight material to use for this project, cost is no concern. Anyone have any ideas ?

Right now I'm thinking something like:
Diamond
Silicon
Carbon Fiber
 
Physics news on Phys.org
From your Mechanics of Materials lectures, how have you learned to define the stress state in the bar under the application of a point load? What determines the deflection of the beam at that centre point? What will be the limiting factor in the beam's ability to carry a load? As in where will it break and what state is that region in? Thinking about these things will help you decide on material suitability as well as cross sectional area.
 
What are you going to use as your basis for your selection? In other words, what criteria are you going to be using to select the material?
 
This is our first design project and as such is very simple. We only have to consider an axial tensile force and an applied torque. There will be no deflection considered, and it is purely design. Right now I'm looking for a lightweight strong material and have found some Spectra fibers, but am in need of its shear modulus to continue
 

Similar threads

Loss of atoms from the surface of the material: How does it work?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Effects of extreme pressure on materials
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Suitable metal for flooring in an industrial lift + power
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Ranking "by eye" bi-material cross sections for strength/stiffness
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Why are Biological Materials easily broken despite being very strong?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Mechanics of material shaft coupling
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Solving Design Project w/ Thermal Switch (Statics)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
Building a rooftop for workshop
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Could New Materials Propel China's Industry to Bill Gates-Level Success?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
10K
Graduate Equation for photocurrent dep. wavelength, diffusion length,
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K