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Old 12-11-2017, 01:09 PM   #2 (permalink)
redpoint5
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I don't see the cost/benefit advantage of an aluminum bed. How much weight does it save? As pointed out, the rear end is already too light for the way 90% of trucks are driven (single occupant commuter vehicle).

Carbon fiber is a superior material and I'm sure it will hold up better than other metals. I'm surprised the auto industry hasn't made more extensive use of the material already. The cost is due to the manual labor involved, but there has to be a way to automate the process.

One challenge of using CF in the structure of a vehicle is that it is very rigid, which makes it a poor material for creating crumple zones. Steel and aluminum are good materials to collapse in a controlled way, dissipating energy. CF remains rigid until failure, and then collapses with very little resistance.
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