Does chassis rigidity diminish over time / age ? 1

[JasonCSBB]

Especially torsional rigidity?

Cheers.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Sure; rivets loosen, welds crack, corrosion reduces section moduli, etc.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[sbozy25]

Get enough rust build up and you could get the Southern Rigidity factor... ha-ha...

Cabbages, knickers, It hasn't got A BEAK!

 

[evelrod]

I don't know about y'alls, but mine has been pretty much downhill lately...

Rod

 

[JasonCSBB]

How about a car in the absence of extreme abuse nor rust?

Do spot welds weaken over time from "normal" use?

 

[MikeHalloran]

No.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Tmoose]

http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Suspension/fdamage/fd.html

 

[JasonCSBB]

So some cars do break welds or sheetmetal - the BMW "clown shoe" Z3 coupe rear shock towers comes to mind.

For cars that don't outright break stuff, do spot welds degrade or microcrack or fatigue or something, over time, from age and normal use?

 

[MikeHalloran]

I will amend my earlier answer. Spot welds do have a finite fatigue life. Which means that after some finite time, even if never subjected to abnormal stresses, they will break. The finite time is normally longer than the car is expected to last, and far longer than its warranty.

"Normal use" does not include resurrecting a frame or car from a junkyard or chicken coop and putting it back in service.


What are you actually trying to learn here?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA