F1 Suspension Flexure Joints

[sideburnsdave]

I am completing some group work at university on f1 suspension flexure joints. I was wondering if anyone had any further information or pictures regarding them?

Thanks.

[TEAM78]

theres a student at your University thats done a load of work on flexures, also there is no public info on flexures in motor sport, its only a second yr report, just write up what you know

[breezeblock]

what the heck is a flexure joint never heard or seen them ?? or does everyone else know and im just thick

[Chucky]

Dunno about everyone but I know a bit about them.

[BugEyed]

A flexure joint is one that doesn't have a conventional bearing surface, but instead just works on the principal of the material flexing. Obviously the degree of movement is limited, but they've been used in motorsport on things like the wishbone to tub joints of F1 suspension for the last 10 years or so. Very common in other applications such as rulers held over the end of desks to make noises and flick ink pellets!

HTH

Duncan

[GaryN]

On most if not all F1 cars the wisbones will have a rod end type joint at the upright and a solid metal joint where it bolts to the chassis. As the suspension has very limited movement even at the wheel, the movement at the chassis end is substantially less. So long as you do not bend the metal past its yield point the end at the chassis will flex up and down with no problems.

HTH.

Gary.

[breezeblock]

would this not fatigue the chassis or suspension

[shiny side up!]

The chassis and the rest of the suspension do not notice any difference compared to any other flavor of joint. The flexure certainly fatigues, but with their imited range of motion and short tours of duty, it is not a problem.

[Lukin]

I think most flexures are titanium alloys? The have a low modulus of elasticity (110 GPa) so are good for flexures, but have a high yield strength, thus having a pretty good fatigue life. As shiny said, throw after every race and you will be right!

[Scott Moyse]

sideburnsdave, i think that is all you are going to get on them mate, if you have more info i'd love to read about it, but unless an F1 engineer posts on this thread i think your luck is out. the guys who have posted prior to me have said everything i know on the subject, and the flexures are well tucked away under and behind all those aero devices so you will be very lucky to get a picture. The Renault V-Keel was an interesting version/variation of traditional application. although i realise the flexure was probably attached to the bottom of the V. You might find a few pics of that car with it's nose off therefore giving you a reasonable view.

like i said i would be very interested to read some matreial on it if you have any to hand!!

[TEAM78]

if you have large wheel movements they aint worth doing, spend the time doing something else, just cuse F1 does it doesnt mean there any good for non aero cars. theres more to be had out of other things before doing them
You should take flexures seriously when you start to account that the pushrod is a spring in series, then things are sensitive enough to start doing something on them
hope this helps in showing all this talk is overated, focus on reducing mass or making a more efficient chassis
oh and one other thing flexures are not joints