Re: Fracturing conrods

["Andrew Jordine" <andrewj@domain.elided>]

>Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 12:29:16 +0200
>From: Jaap Bouma <j.h.bouma@domain.elided>
>Subject: Re: intentional fracturing
>
>It also leads me to the conclusion that the ductile deformation of the
>fracture area is sufficiently small that the elastic deformation of the rod
>and cap as the cap bolts are tightened returns the shape and size of the
>'eye' to within tolerances. This means that the material must be quite
>brittle. How this brittleness is achieved without compromising the strength
>of the rod, I do not know.


A possible way to get the rods to behave in a brittle manner would be to
cool them down to below the ductile-brittle transition temperature. The
normal  properties would return on reheating. I don't know for sure if this
how it is done however.
This effect is what caused the Liberty ships in WWII to break in half and
more recently is used by car thieves to break Crooklok strg wheel locks.
They chill them with dry ice or something and then hit them with a hammer
and they snap like a fresh carrot.

A very interesting topic for the Alfa Digest.

Andrew Jordine
Adelaide Australia
1971 1750 GTV

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