Areat folks, i ma trying to work out roughly how much weight i can save if i make all the panel work from GRP instead of ally, but i need to know how many sqm area there is?
I was going to get giddy and use carbon fibre, untill i seen the cost , would look cool though hey

So any idea on the sqm needed to cover all the panels?

cheers


wolly

I would imagine that alloy panels are lighter than grp panels. Unless you make them from light tissue.

Have a look on here for a comparison of materials;

http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/t-GlassReinforcedPlastics.aspx

If I understand the term 'specific gravity' correctly, it suggests that a panel made from CSM and of similar tensile strength as aluminium will be slightly less than half the weight.

well from my workings out

10 sqm of 1.5 ally is 89lds

20 sqm 0f 300grm ( 2 layers ) gsm with resin is 55lbs, ex gel coat

more could be saved in other grp methods if using a glass fibre cloth or woven roving.


thought it would be worth looking into as a weight saver and maybe cheaper.


beat me to it Slimy

[Edited on 21/4/12 by w.olly]

Yep, that table suggests woven roving or cloth would yield a stronger panel, at the expense of being less workable. But if you're looking at replacing ally I'm guessing you're not looking at complex curves?

If you want the carbon fibre look you could always add just one layer on the outside face? You won't have the ultimate strength to weight ratio of a full fibre panel, it won't be any weaker than GRP but it'll be a whole lot prettier? That's what I'm planning to do (if I get round to it!)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slimy38
Yep, that table suggests woven roving or cloth would yield a stronger panel, at the expense of being less workable. But if you're looking at replacing ally I'm guessing you're not looking at complex curves?

If you want the carbon fibre look you could always add just one layer on the outside face? You won't have the ultimate strength to weight ratio of a full fibre panel, it won't be any weaker than GRP but it'll be a whole lot prettier? That's what I'm planning to do (if I get round to it!)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by w.olly

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slimy38
Yep, that table suggests woven roving or cloth would yield a stronger panel, at the expense of being less workable. But if you're looking at replacing ally I'm guessing you're not looking at complex curves?

If you want the carbon fibre look you could always add just one layer on the outside face? You won't have the ultimate strength to weight ratio of a full fibre panel, it won't be any weaker than GRP but it'll be a whole lot prettier? That's what I'm planning to do (if I get round to it!)

---

Yes at the minute i will be just doing the flat sheets, i have done a bit before in my boating days, easy to do with a sheet of hardboard to get a good flat surface to lay up on, i am going to see what i need when i come to do the body and i ite do a whole new rear and nose cone, depends on how excited i am to to te it going.

I like the idea of a surface carbon fibre with roven onderneath, didnt think of that, good call kida. Bjut at £25 - £30 per sqm


still the Q needs an answer, how many sqm area on the builds?

[Edited on 21/4/12 by w.olly]

---