diamond plate bellypan diffuser? - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

lunarhighway · 01-09-2010, 12:12 PM

i don't think the pattern will make a measurable difference vs smooth, most factory undertrays are terribly uneven, mostely because of structural reasons.

a full undertray will be much smoother than nothing so it will help to a certain degree even it it's not perfect. weight is an issue and when it comes to undertrays i'd say the lighter the better, bending the edges upwards (and if your material is thin enough you can do this by hand over a straight edge) will create a much stronger shape than a flat sheet, with very little added weight/lost surface, and a sheet half as thin can be half the cost.

winkosmosis · 01-09-2010, 12:13 PM

There is also aluminum diamond plate

MadisonMPG · 01-09-2010, 12:47 PM

Coroplast is lighter, cheaper, and...better. 'nuff said.

aerohead · 01-09-2010, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

im picking out a metal to use for my belly pan ,and i was wondering since some manufactures use dimpling for their belly pans would the patern on diamond plate help or hurt?

I'm pretty certain that the dimpling is part of the manufacturing process.As a form of "corrugation" it may add strength to a thinner section,adding strength while cutting weight.
With respect to the "high-end" luxury cars,it's also a way to alter the resonant-frequency of the floor,so it doesn't "boom",enhancing the " noise,vibration and harshness" criteria.
Since the pattern on diamond plate is only cosmetic,I don't think it has any advantages.If you can buy it dirt cheap go ahead and score some,but consider using "upside-down."

winkosmosis · 01-09-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerohead

I'm pretty certain that the dimpling is part of the manufacturing process.As a form of "corrugation" it may add strength to a thinner section,adding strength while cutting weight.
With respect to the "high-end" luxury cars,it's also a way to alter the resonant-frequency of the floor,so it doesn't "boom",enhancing the " noise,vibration and harshness" criteria.
Since the pattern on diamond plate is only cosmetic,I don't think it has any advantages.If you can buy it dirt cheap go ahead and score some,but consider using "upside-down."

It's not only cosmetic though. The "diamonds" are raised so they add rigidity

mcrews · 01-09-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

It's not only cosmetic though. The "diamonds" are raised so they add rigidity

Actually, Gentlemen, speaking as a former Aluminum & Alloy Specialist for Ryerson Steel

in Dallas Tx, the 'diamond pattern' has NOTHING to do with strength or rigidity. Material with that pattern is for steps and for walking on.
it is 'somewhat' slip resistant. That's it!
The ONLY purpose that ANY metal (added) under the car is good for is a skid plate in front of an OVERLY

exposed oil pan.....and even then only a 1ft by 2ft piece MAX.

Coroplast (corogated) is the superior

off the shelf product. (and yellow is not the only color!!! lol)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...5-11402-3.html

Christ · 01-09-2010, 06:12 PM

Agreed that diamond plate is only for traction... it's called tread plate for a reason.

winkosmosis · 01-09-2010, 06:24 PM

How is it possible to add bumps to flat metal and NOT have it add rigidity? Are the diamonds made of Jello?

Christ · 01-09-2010, 06:38 PM

Going on personal experience, I gotta say that it's just as easy to bend tread plate as it is to bend flat aluminum sections.

The exception might be that the diamonds are thicker, so the metal is more likely to bend at the points exactly around them, but the purpose of those diamonds is not to add rigidity. If it does anything, it's a side effect of it's intended purpose.

Nobody said it didn't add rigidity, mcrews just made note that they weren't put there for that purpose.

mcrews · 01-09-2010, 06:57 PM

Duh. Thanks Christ.

Wnkosmosis, probalbly, never having seen "tread plate" you comment is completely off the mark.
Please re-read the entire post fully. instead of aurguing about an off-topic point, the tread plate is the opposite of dimpling because, as Christ says, it is Added to one side of the metal for ONLY one function. skid resistance. NOT thickness. Not rigidity.

Now, if you wnat to challenge my expertise we can go to another thread, but I never sold a piece of plate 'less thick' than reguired because we went to 'thread plate'. It just doesnt work that way.